Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans there are to increase the number of civil service (a) jobs and (b) offices located in Scotland.

The Government is clear that the administration of government needs to be less London-centric.

The Cabinet Office has established the Places for Growth programme to drive the necessary planning and preparation within departments and arm’s length bodies to relocate roles out of London into the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

We want to ensure we are realising the potential of all four nations of the United Kingdom and delivering opportunity across the UK.

This includes Scotland, which will benefit from the relocation of Civil Service roles, for example the new government hubs being created in Edinburgh and Glasgow.