To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider locating or relocating additional departmental jobs to Westmorland and Lonsdale. (152843)

DEFRA has no plans to relocate additional departmental jobs to Westmorland and Lonsdale. Under the Lyons agenda, DEFRA has a target to relocate 390 posts out of the south-east and to accomplish this target without incurring significant costs, DEFRA’s strategy is to use existing accommodation outside the south-east. DEFRA already has accommodation in York and Worcester where the majority of posts will be relocated.