West Norfolk MP to raise CITB headquarters move in Westminster debate

The fight against plans to move the Construction Industry Training Board's (CITB) headquarters out of West Norfolk heads to Westminster today.

North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham has secured a Westminster Hall debate on the board's future, which will take place this morning.

The session, which is due to start at 11am, comes less than a fortnight after the CITB announced plans to "actively seek" a new home in the Peterborough area and leave its current home in Bircham Newton.

Its bosses claim the move, which they hope to complete by early 2020, is essential to help them secure the organisation's long-term future.

But Sir Henry claims that went against a commitment that consultations on the future of the Bircham site during discussions with senior board officials.

He said he understood the need for reform but argued that moving now was "illogical" and would be very costly.

He said: “I am delighted the Speaker has given me the opportunity to raise this most important issue.

"I will certainly reinforce the point that the CITB must rethink their completely illogical move to Peterborough as they need to conduct a proper consultation on staying at Bircham.

"I believe they should abandon the idea of moving to Peterborough as their only specific alternative, and to go on genuinely consulting on staying at Bircham in line with what we were originally promised."