Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure civil servants in the wider north west benefit from the construction of the Manchester Digital Campus.

Manchester Digital Campus (MDC) will bring together approximately 8,800 civil servants from multiple government departments, with a focus on digital delivery. A significant proportion will create new roles in the region.

As a centre of digital expertise, MDC will integrate Government Digital, drive innovation and skills and support economic growth. The campus will galvanise collaboration across the Civil Service and is aligned with the Places for Growth (PfG) Strategy for the North-West region. MDC will act as a hub supporting the PfG vision, benefitting civil servants across the North-West. A number of successful workshops have already taken place involving civil servants from across the wider North-West region, not just those destined for MDC.