The Lyons Review

Overview

The Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister asked Sir Michael Lyons, Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, to conduct an independent study into the scope for relocating a substantial number of public sector activities from London and the South East of England to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Terms of reference

The terms of reference for the Lyons Review are:

“In the light of the need to improve:

• the delivery and efficiency of public services; and
• the regional balance of economic activity;

and, taking account of departmental pay and workforce strategies, updated to reflect relocation plans, Sir Michael Lyons will make recommendations to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor for the relocation of civil service and other public sector workers, by November, to inform the next spending review.”

Review Extended

Departments submitted relocation proposals to the Lyons Review in September that identified approximately 20,000 jobs that could be relocated from London and the South East. The proposals are currently being assessed by the Review team to ensure that opportunities for relocation have been fully captured.

The timetable of the Review has therefore been extended a little beyond the original deadline of late November to reflect the need for a further period of close engagement with departments. The final report is expected to issue in March 2004.

The Lyons Review public consultation formally ended on 30 September 2003. Sir Michael sought the views of individuals and organisations on some of the broader issues surrounding public sector relocation. Many of the responses drew attention to the merits of particular locations. The attached response was submitted by the Core Cities Group.

Further information on this review can be found on:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/lyonsreview

Full report

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