Was the Department’s press office correct in giving the impression last Friday that at least 20 staff will be retained at Alnwick after Steria’s Shared Services organisation moves its operations from there next June?

Was the Department’s press office correct in giving the impression last Friday that at least 20 staff will be retained at Alnwick after Steria’s Shared Services organisation moves its operations from there next June?

My right hon. Friend is understandably taking a close interest in the future of what has been a very efficient office. As he knows, Shared Services, with Steria, has bid for contracts on which it was unsuccessful. However, other DEFRA teams at that location will continue to work there in situ.

My right hon. Friend is understandably taking a close interest in the future of what has been a very efficient office. As he knows, Shared Services, with Steria, has bid for contracts on which it was unsuccessful. However, other DEFRA teams at that location will continue to work there in situ.

I am glad to have the opportunity to raise a matter that is of great concern in Alnwick in my constituency, particularly as the Minister responding is the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North Cornwall (Dan Rogerson), who knows a...

I am glad to have the opportunity to raise a matter that is of great concern in Alnwick in my constituency, particularly as the Minister responding is the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North Cornwall (Dan Rogerson), who knows a...

I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) not just for how he is currently representing his constituents as regards the Alnwick office, but for how he has done so, as we have heard, over many years—going back to the era when Peter...

I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) not just for how he is currently representing his constituents as regards the Alnwick office, but for how he has done so, as we have heard, over many years—going back to the era when Peter...

I am pleased that my hon. Friend has responsibility for this area, not least because Northumberland is way ahead of the field in its work on rural broadband. However, if small businesses can operate from rural locations, so can the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I am pleased that my hon. Friend has responsibility for this area, not least because Northumberland is way ahead of the field in its work on rural broadband. However, if small businesses can operate from rural locations, so can the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Absolutely, we can. I have set out the history of the office. As my right hon. Friend has pointed out, it has shown that it can be a very efficient place from which to operate. We want to get to the position where the new company recognises that. What is...

Absolutely, we can. I have set out the history of the office. As my right hon. Friend has pointed out, it has shown that it can be a very efficient place from which to operate. We want to get to the position where the new company recognises that. What is...

May I press my hon. Friend on the 20-month period? The phrase “occupy accommodation” is unpersuasive. I had understood him to anticipate that in the 20-month period the work would be likely to remain there, although that would not involve an absolute guarantee on the number of jobs that would...

May I press my hon. Friend on the 20-month period? The phrase “occupy accommodation” is unpersuasive. I had understood him to anticipate that in the 20-month period the work would be likely to remain there, although that would not involve an absolute guarantee on the number of jobs that would...

I understand my right hon. Friend’s concern about that. He is right that, in a period of transition, members of staff might look to the future and decide whether to look for other opportunities, while others will stay on. The agreement is as described, which is to say that the...

I understand my right hon. Friend’s concern about that. He is right that, in a period of transition, members of staff might look to the future and decide whether to look for other opportunities, while others will stay on. The agreement is as described, which is to say that the...

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will visit Alnwick to discuss the rebuilding of the Duchess's high school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will visit Alnwick to discuss the rebuilding of the Duchess's high school.

The Prime Minister's pledge is being met because the Government are investing. We are starting with the schools that need to make the greatest progress. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, all decisions are accountable locally or nationally and are made against clear, transparent criteria. We must all accept that...

The Prime Minister's pledge is being met because the Government are investing. We are starting with the schools that need to make the greatest progress. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, all decisions are accountable locally or nationally and are made against clear, transparent criteria. We must all accept that...

The Minister has mentioned the decisions that the local authority can take. However, the local education authority finds that it has to tick the boxes to qualify for such programmes. In making decisions about the limited capital available to it, it must take account of how a viable project can...

The Minister has mentioned the decisions that the local authority can take. However, the local education authority finds that it has to tick the boxes to qualify for such programmes. In making decisions about the limited capital available to it, it must take account of how a viable project can...

I understand the right hon. Gentleman's point. In Northumberland, 9.6 per cent. of the dedicated schools grant is for disadvantaged pupils, compared with a national average of 12.1 per cent. He has acknowledged that the pockets of deprivation in Northumberland are fairly small compared with the rest of the country....

I understand the right hon. Gentleman's point. In Northumberland, 9.6 per cent. of the dedicated schools grant is for disadvantaged pupils, compared with a national average of 12.1 per cent. He has acknowledged that the pockets of deprivation in Northumberland are fairly small compared with the rest of the country....

Northumberland has both those problems. It has high levels of deprivation, particularly in the south-eastern corner, and as sparse a rural distribution as is possible over the rest of the county. The funding system seems to work in such a way that the county qualifies as neither one nor the...

Northumberland has both those problems. It has high levels of deprivation, particularly in the south-eastern corner, and as sparse a rural distribution as is possible over the rest of the county. The funding system seems to work in such a way that the county qualifies as neither one nor the...

It gives me pleasure to reply to this debate on behalf of my hon. Friend the Minister for Schools and Learners. I will return to the point about a visit to the constituency of the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith). I congratulate him on securing this debate...

It gives me pleasure to reply to this debate on behalf of my hon. Friend the Minister for Schools and Learners. I will return to the point about a visit to the constituency of the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith). I congratulate him on securing this debate...

In March 2004, when he was Chancellor, the Prime Minister made an important promise. I heard him say:""Our capital investment allocations will ensure for every constituency in the country that by 2015 every secondary school can be refurbished or rebuilt with world class technology in every school and the best...

In March 2004, when he was Chancellor, the Prime Minister made an important promise. I heard him say:""Our capital investment allocations will ensure for every constituency in the country that by 2015 every secondary school can be refurbished or rebuilt with world class technology in every school and the best...

Westminster hall adjournment debate on school buildings in Alnwick, Northumberland.

Westminster hall adjournment debate on school buildings in Alnwick, Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total number of reductions proposed is in the Department's staff at its offices in Alnwick, Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total number of reductions proposed is in the Department's staff at its offices in Alnwick, Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons alcohol-related referrals to the community mental health service in the Alnwick and Berwick areas have been suspended; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons alcohol-related referrals to the community mental health service in the Alnwick and Berwick areas have been suspended; and if she will make a statement.