Government Jobs Going In Newcastle

The Government is to close its Central Office of Information, which has an office in Newcastle, and union leaders warned the move threatens the loss of 400 jobs.

Prospect said it was ``shocked and devastated'' by the decision to abolish the information department, which was set up in 1946.

Ministers said the closure was part of a reform of Government communications following spending controls on advertising and marketing.

Prospect said there had been no consultation or warning to staff about the likely redundancies, adding that employees at the COI's London head office would bear the brunt of the cuts.

The Cabinet Office said changes leading to the closure of the COI would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Government communications.

Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, said: ``This Government has slashed unnecessary spending on communications. These important and significant changes to Government communications structures are designed to reflect this and to save more money by cutting bureaucracy and reducing duplication.

``This does not mean the end of vital and cost-effective marketing campaigns, such as those campaigns that save people's lives.

``However, it does mean that communications spending in the future will never again get out of hand and instead will be more transparent, better co-ordinated and less bureaucratic.''

The Government said spending on advertising and marketing had been cut by 68% to #168 million in the past year, with departments reducing the number of in-house communications staff by a quarter and their budgets by half.

Campaigns such as health and recruitment to the armed forces would continue, the Government said.