Education Minister says North-East town still on radar to keep 480 civil service posts (From The Northern Echo)
For details on how to contact our editorial and commercial departments, click here
Michael Gove says Department for Education jobs could stay in Darlington
6:00am Saturday 2nd February 2013 in News
By Steven Hugill
A SENIOR Government minister has revealed 480 civil servant jobs could stay in a North-East town.
Education Secretary Michael Gove yesterday told The Northern Echo that Darlington was “still on the radar” as a venue to house Department for Education (DfE) staff.
Employees at Mowden Hall, in Darlington, face being transferred 40 miles away to Newcastle due to the building's poor state of repair and Government financial cutbacks.
Workers say they cannot afford their jobs to be moved out of Darlington and last year staged a protest and sent Mr Gove a card urging him to keep their posts in the town.
Mr Gove was in the North-East yesterday to see Conyers School, in Yarm, receive academy status, and said the DfE were sensitive to the needs of people at Mowden Hall.
He said: “We want to keep a strong presence in the North-East and that could still be in Darlington.
“Mowden Hall as a building is not appropriate for the role the department is going to play in the future, but there are some brilliant civil servants working there.
“The quality of the work they do for people across the country is fantastic and we are sensitive to their needs.
“We are equally sensitive and aware that people put down roots and have families with children in local schools.
“For that reason Darlington is still very much on the radar as a place to house Department for Education staff.”
A petition led by The Northern Echo has attracted more than 1,100 signatures and will be presented to the Government.
Potential sites at Lingfield Point and Northgate House, both in Darlington, have been put forward by staff and union officials.
Darlington MP Jenny Chapman has championed the need to keep DfE jobs in Darlington in the House of Commons, saying any transfer of roles would cut £21m a year from the town's economy.
She said: “We need to keep the heat on the department because Mowden Hall has staff with great experience and expertise.
“Everyone understands the significance of Mowden Hall and the massive contribution it makes to Darlington's economy and staff will not be able to continue in their roles if they were transferred to Newcastle.”
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (2)
9:52am Sat 2 Feb 13
simmo707 says...
Russell Brand being interviewed on National Television was asked by Jon Snow ”having been before a Parliamentary Committee did you feel that you were being taken notice of “ Brand replied obviously not they are just a window dressing exercise “ (Video on site)
What employer has the following members of staff that have committed the offence's listed ;29 have been accused of spouse abuse :7 have been arrested for fraud :9 have been accused of writing bad cheque's :17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least two businesses:3 have done time for assault :71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit :14 have been arrested on drug-related charges :8 have been arrested for shoplifting :21 are currently defendants in lawsuits :84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year :1 who pays standard class and travels first class :And collectively this year have cost the British tax payer £92,993,748 in expenses :You've guessed 635 members of the House of Commons : The same liars and thieves that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line .They should be treated with the contempt they deserve .
www.brokenbritainund
ertories.com
9:52am Sat 2 Feb 13
simmo707 says...
Russell Brand being interviewed on National Television was asked by Jon Snow ”having been before a Parliamentary Committee did you feel that you were being taken notice of “ Brand replied obviously not they are just a window dressing exercise “ (Video on site)
What employer has the following members of staff that have committed the offence's listed ;29 have been accused of spouse abuse :7 have been arrested for fraud :9 have been accused of writing bad cheque's :17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least two businesses:3 have done time for assault :71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit :14 have been arrested on drug-related charges :8 have been arrested for shoplifting :21 are currently defendants in lawsuits :84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year :1 who pays standard class and travels first class :And collectively this year have cost the British tax payer £92,993,748 in expenses :You've guessed 635 members of the House of Commons : The same liars and thieves that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line .They should be treated with the contempt they deserve .
www.brokenbritainund
ertories.com