asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many new jobs have been created by the Government in the North-West region in each year since April 1974.

I understand that the hon. Member's interest is in Civil Service posts dispersed to the North-West region in the years stated. The information is as follows:

NUMBER OF POSTS DISPERSED FROM LONDON
Year ending
31 March 1975	86
31 March 1976	37
31 March 1977	373
31 March 1978	182
Six months ended
30 September 1978	16

It is planned to disperse nearly 5,000 more Civil Service posts from London to the North-West region as a result of the Government's dispersal programme announced on 30 July 1974. In addition, some 500 new posts are to be set up in the region.