MPs are set to debate plans by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to relocate its in Bircham Newton head office in Norfolk to an unidentified site in Peterborough.

The Westminster Hall debate was initiated by North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham and will take place later today, 17 July.

Welcoming the news, Union Unite said the CITB's proposals could see up to 136 staff currently at the Bircham Newton site lose their jobs.

The move is part of the organisation's business plan to reduce the organisation's headcount from 1,370 to 484 people by 2020.

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However, Unite's Regional Coordinating Officer Mark Robinson said a meeting with the CITB board on 03 July made it clear that there was no realistic intention of considering any staff proposal of keeping its head office functions at Bircham Newton or indeed anywhere in Norfolk as it fails to meet one of its key criteria of ‘being in a central location'.

It is understood that the CITB bosses are considering a yet-to-be identified site in Peterborough as the preferred option for their new HQ.

Mr Robinson said: "We hope today's Westminster Hall debate throws a powerful spotlight on the shameful plan to close the Construction Industry Training Board's HQ at Bircham Newton in Norfolk for no sound economic reason.

"Up to 136 jobs of hardworking staff are on the line which will be a severe blow for the local Norfolk economy which can't afford to lose such skilled jobs."

(LM/MH)