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| ONS set to close down London HQ | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is proposing to close its London headquarters by 2010. | The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is proposing to close its London headquarters by 2010. |
| Under the plan, fewer than 100 workers will remain in the capital at another building, while most of the 600 staff will move to Newport, South Wales. | |
| The plan was part of a government programme to move jobs out of London, the ONS said. | The plan was part of a government programme to move jobs out of London, the ONS said. |
| The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it feared up to 200 compulsory redundancies. | The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it feared up to 200 compulsory redundancies. |
| Closure plans | Closure plans |
| Under the proposal, staff numbers in London would be reduced to 340 by April next year and to between 50 and 100 by April 2010. | Under the proposal, staff numbers in London would be reduced to 340 by April next year and to between 50 and 100 by April 2010. |
| Most posts will move to Newport with a small number going to Titchfield, in Hampshire. | Most posts will move to Newport with a small number going to Titchfield, in Hampshire. |
| The move will lead to the closure of the ONS's Drummond Gate site in London. Remaining civil servants will move to the Family Records Centre in Islington. | The move will lead to the closure of the ONS's Drummond Gate site in London. Remaining civil servants will move to the Family Records Centre in Islington. |
| "This would reaffirm Newport as the corporate headquarters and the main site for ONS in future," a spokesman said. | "This would reaffirm Newport as the corporate headquarters and the main site for ONS in future," a spokesman said. |
| The ONS is heavily involved in the production of the census, as well as data concerning a wide range of subjects including inflation, unemployment, social trends and tourism. | The ONS is heavily involved in the production of the census, as well as data concerning a wide range of subjects including inflation, unemployment, social trends and tourism. |
| Its headquarters houses a mix of statisticians and support staff, a spokesman said. | Its headquarters houses a mix of statisticians and support staff, a spokesman said. |
| Union anger | Union anger |
| Union officials said that £75m had been spent on modernising the ONS. | Union officials said that £75m had been spent on modernising the ONS. |
| A PCS spokesman added that staff were "livid" at the proposal, and said it made the prospect of a national civil service strike more likely. | A PCS spokesman added that staff were "livid" at the proposal, and said it made the prospect of a national civil service strike more likely. |
| Tens of thousands of civil servants are already being balloted about industrial action in a dispute over jobs and pay. | Tens of thousands of civil servants are already being balloted about industrial action in a dispute over jobs and pay. |
| "These plans are unnecessary, ill thought out, and will undermine the quality of the statistics that the government base new initiatives and policies on," PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said. | "These plans are unnecessary, ill thought out, and will undermine the quality of the statistics that the government base new initiatives and policies on," PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said. |
| "With compulsory redundancies likely on a far larger scale than ever before, today's announcement will anger staff, stiffen their resolve and increase the likelihood of a civil service wide strike. | "With compulsory redundancies likely on a far larger scale than ever before, today's announcement will anger staff, stiffen their resolve and increase the likelihood of a civil service wide strike. |
| "If the government are to avoid a conflict with its own workforce then it needs to move swiftly in giving assurances over jobs and services." | "If the government are to avoid a conflict with its own workforce then it needs to move swiftly in giving assurances over jobs and services." |