asked the Minister for the Public Service if the Government have plans for the decentralisation of Government Departments throughout the country; and, if so, if he will outline such plans, in particular, the services being considered, the different Departments that are likely to be affected and the location of the proposed centres.

The cancellation by the Government of the decentralisation programme was announced by the Minister for Finance in his 1983 budget speech.

My responsibility as Minister for the Public Service in the reactivation of any such programme would extend only to the determination of appropriate numbers, and arranging for the transfer, of staff to the centres concerned.

Can I take it that the Government have no plans, in the light of their national plan, for decentralisation of the public service?

There is a similar question addressed to the Minister for Finance on the Order Paper. I presume he will go into the matter more fully at that time. The situation as far as the Government are concerned is as outlined by the Minister for Finance in the course of the 1983 budget speech.

I can take it from that reply that the Minister for the Public Service has no plans to be involved in decentralisation.

Decentralisation would actually mean decentralisation of functions. The word as used now has been taken to mean the transferring of a particular office to locations in the country, which is a different item entirely from decentralisation as such.

There are no proposals.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.