To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans for the dispersal of civil service jobs will extend to all areas of the country.

Around 34,000 staff are employed in the range of public services covered by the Scottish Executive’s relocation policy; around two-thirds of these are already located outwith Edinburgh.

Two objectives govern relocation decisions. First, the location of organisations should promote efficiency and effectiveness. Second, subject to the first objective, the work of the Scottish Executive and related bodies should be close to the communities they serve. When relocation is being considered, no parts of the country are targeted, nor are any ruled out. Each relocation decision is viewed on its own merits and a decision is taken about where each organisation should be situated, based on the relevant factors in each case.