Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Business Services

Monday 18 July 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Peter Dowd inquired about plans to restructure Defence Business Services, noting a 2016 announcement of a single location for the north-west estate.
  • Peter Dowd questioned whether the hubs in Liverpool and Manchester would be included in the Defence Business Services workplace programme to avoid redundancies.
  • Paul Maynard asked the minister to encourage other Government Departments to share the vision of supporting Blackpool as a Government jobs location.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Dowd Lab Bootle
Defence
Context

The MP has previously raised concerns about the restructuring of Defence Business Services with constituents in mind.

Question

What plans does he have to restructure Defence Business Services, considering it was announced back in 2016 that a single location for the north-west estate would be chosen?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The hon. Gentleman has raised this with me on more than one occasion previously. I know that it matters greatly to his constituents. As announced back in 2016, Defence Business Services will consolidate its north-west estate into a single location. Last year, a thorough multi-criteria decision analysis was undertaken, which considered a number of locations and recommended consolidation in Blackpool. The full business case is being considered within the approvals process. I expect to make an announcement soon, and will write to the Members representing the constituencies affected.

Answered
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Q2 Peter Dowd Lab Bootle
Defence Employment
Context

The MP seeks to prevent compulsory redundancies and considers bringing hubs in Liverpool and Manchester into the Defence Business Services workplace programme.

Question

Will he consider bringing the hubs in Liverpool and Manchester into the Defence Business Services workplace programme solution to avoid compulsory redundancies?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

What I can say is that in locating to Blackpool, as was recommended, we will do our utmost to avoid compulsory redundancies. There is a good working relationship at a local level with the trade unions, which are doing well to represent their members. There is an absolute expectation on our part that we will maximise the ability to work flexibly, with things such as deferred moves and everything else we can do to support our employees. This move was designed not to cut posts, but as an estate rationalisation scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: the specific request to consider bringing Liverpool and Manchester hubs into the programme

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Q3 Paul Maynard Con
Employment Parliamentary Procedure Local Government
Context

The MP expresses appreciation for moving many jobs to his constituency and seeks encouragement for other Government Departments to follow suit.

Question

Will he encourage all Government Departments, not just the MOD, to share his vision and his confidence in the people of my constituency?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

I know we are not alone in putting Government jobs into Blackpool; it is a popular location, and it was entirely driven by the intensive work we did on finding the best location. I can reassure my hon. Friend and this House that we undertook a very serious bit of work looking at all available options, and the recommendation of Blackpool emerged as a result of that serious analysis.

Partly answered

Not addressed: the specific request to encourage other Government Departments

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