Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with trade unions on plans to close Defence Business Services offices at Cheadle Hulme and Walker House, Liverpool, and move these posts to Blackpool.

Officials have kept Trade Unions appraised of progress at all stages of the programme and been engaged in positive negotiations, including the conclusion of a collective agreement on a non-standard move package for all staff with no unagreed redundancies. The Chief Executive most recently met with Trade Unions on 26 October and officials will continue to engage and consult with the Trade Unions in line with the Ministry of Defence's Employment Relations Framework Agreement.