Oral Answers to Questions

James Daly Excerpts

Thursday 25th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

7. What progress he is making on relocating civil service jobs from London.

[James Daly (Bury North) (Con)]

14. What progress the Government have made in delivering civil service jobs outside London.

[Mr Richard Holden (North West Durham) (Con)]

17. What progress the Government have made in delivering civil service jobs outside London.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

I am a little surprised by that, because the Government are committed to York. The hon. Lady has already, along with other colleagues, made the case successfully. Not least, the Cabinet Office itself is committed to increasing its presence from about 400 to 600 in York. We are committed to York through Places for Growth, and I hope she would celebrate that.

[James Daly]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington, with its skilled workforce, transport links and infrastructure, would be the ideal location for civil service jobs outside London, and that this would be an example of our Government’s determination to level up across the country?

[Steve Barclay]

I very much do agree that Bury would be a great location, as indeed would a number of locations across the north-west. It is important that the Places for Growth programme does not solely look at inner-city locations but also looks at the opportunities that places like Bury offer to relocate jobs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

We covered this a moment ago. It is right that, at every stage of the pandemic, insight was commissioned measuring a range of different factors. All insight and evaluation activity is assessed regularly for its appropriateness, impact and fitness for purpose. As I said earlier, responses to all FOI requests are handled in line with legislation, and that includes applying relevant exemptions where applicable.

[James Daly (Bury North) (Con)]

Veterans in Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington must often live with a range of conditions that our brilliant doctors are not used to treating. Does my hon. Friend agree that the £5 million veterans healthcare innovation fund will play a key role in helping our injured veterans to live life to the full once they have returned from active duty?

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty)]

I do agree that the £5 million innovation fund will help us to allow veterans to benefit from cutting-edge technology to assist their recovery. It is also an important part of the bespoke pathway that we are crafting for veterans through the NHS system, including GP accreditation. I pay tribute to the work that my hon. Friend does in his own constituency to support the care of veterans.