§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to relocate staff in(a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible to the regions of the United Kingdom with the highest levels of unemployment; and what plans he has further to decentralise the location of his Department and its agencies. [70458]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 15 February 1999]The Department has 46 per cent. of its staff located outside London. This includes the Patent Office and Companies House, which relocated from London to Wales, a strong presence in the Government Offices for the Regions and the regional networks of the Insolvency Service, Employment Tribunals Service and Radiocommunications Agency. There has been no major decentralisation in recent years. The scope for further relocation is limited by operational requirements.