Written question asked by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Monday, 7 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 April 2003. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 April 2003 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what progress the Department has made towards the aim in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of assessing the balance of staff between the centre and the regions in terms of effective policy design and implementation; and what examples there have been since the publication of the White Paper of the Department deciding between locating new streams of work (a) in and (b) outside London and the South East.

Answer: Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress the Department has made towards the aim in the White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice, of assessing the balance of staff between the centre and the regions in terms of effective policy design and implementation; and what examples there have been since the publication of the White Paper of the Department deciding between locating new streams of work (a) in and (b) outside London and the South East. [108568] Mr. Ivan Lewis: My Department is currently reviewing the deployment of its staff resources in the regions, with the aim of improving value for money. The review is about to report, and its recommendations will be considered in May. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget plans to examine relocation of public services with the aim of achieving best value for money. He has asked Sir Michael Lyons-- Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies at Birmingham University--to advise on relocation by the next Spending Review.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 108568; 404 c415-6W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Staff Civil servants Government departments Location Regional government Department for Education and Skills South East
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk