The Deputy cannot say there was a lack of planning. We spent four years from the announcement of the decision before we announced the locations and the number of civil servants who would travel to the regions. My Department and other Departments are pushing ahead at full speed with the decentralisation programme. I hope we will be able to fulfil our target date. This programme is totally voluntary. It was a decision taken by the Government and it will be fulfilled.
I noted that my colleague, Gordon Brown, announced in his budget speech last week a decentralisation programme for United Kingdom civil servants. For those who commented unfavourably that I should not have included a reference to decentralisation in my budget speech, I am glad to note that my friend, Gordon Brown, mentioned it in his budget speech. I refer Deputies to an interesting document by Sir Michael Lyons, on which Gordon Brown based some of his recommendations and commentary, which is well worth reading. Sir Michael Lyons totally pooh-poohs much of the commentary about decentralisation, which Members also heard from some commentators in this country. The plan is on course, the scheme is voluntary, consultations are taking place with unions and it is a case of full speed ahead. By the way, does the Deputy's party support decentralisation?