Information Commissioner’s Office: Relocation

Derek Twigg Excerpts
Wednesday 16th July 2025

(2 days, 9 hours ago)

Westminster Hall
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Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant
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I will in a moment. I throw this point back at the right hon. Lady; I am sure she would not want to waste taxpayers’ money.

Derek Twigg Portrait Derek Twigg (in the Chair)
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I remind the right hon. Lady that interventions should be short.

Esther McVey Portrait Esther McVey
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I made it clear that the office size was shrinking, so I gave the Minister the cost per square foot. Those are the raw data and information that we need. It would have been much cheaper to stay in Wilmslow per square foot and reduce the headcount down from 800 to 250. That is the difference, and we do not have the raw data for that.

--- Later in debate ---
Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant
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I am not, I am afraid, going to give way now—[Interruption.]

Derek Twigg Portrait Derek Twigg (in the Chair)
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Order. The Minister is not giving way.

Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant
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The ICO went through a thorough process. It had to gain approval at the end of that process, although it had been speaking to the Cabinet Office from the very beginning. That is why I believe it has come up with the best solution to ensure it has the talent it needs into the future, bearing in mind that nearly 10% of its staff are near retirement age. It is also the best value for the Government and therefore for the taxpayer—

Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).