Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason provisions on the long service cap within the Pensions Act 2014 have not yet come into force.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Before the provisions could be brought into force certain changes to secondary legislation were required to ensure the cap works as intended in all situations.
I have now completed the consultation on these changes and am considering the responses. It is my intention that the long service cap will be implemented from April 2017.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to help protect the pensions of long-serving employees.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
We have a well-established regime of checks and balances in place, for example the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator. The Government keeps this framework for pensions under constant review, and amends it when evidence demonstrates such change is needed
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 36891, whether it is his Department's policy to retain a Jobcentre Plus in Fylde; and for what reasons officials in his Department did not inform the hon. Member for Fylde of his Department's plans to redevelop the Jobcentre Plus at Westmoreland House in Lytham St. Annes.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
The department is in the process of reviewing all of its estates requirements as the current contract for most of the estate comes to an end on 31 March 2018.
As building contracts come to an end landlords may explore what options are available to them, including making planning applications. In many cases this will be a sensible commercial decision even if the landlord intends on continuing to let their property to DWP.
In this case the landlord of Westmorland House has acted independently of DWP in applying for planning permission. No decision has been made on the future of this Jobcentre Plus.
Commercial negotiations are underway on the entirety of our estate at this time and it is not appropriate to comment further on individual sites while negotiations are in progress.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff are employed by Jobcentre Plus at Westmorland House, Lytham St. Annes.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
There are currently 31 people employed at Westmorland House, whose working patterns equate to 26.48 whole time equivalents.
Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to close or relocate Jobcentre Plus at Westmorland House, Lytham St. Annes.
Answered by Priti Patel - Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
The Department is in the process of reviewing all of its estates requirements as the current contract for most of the estate comes to an end in March 2018.
Commercial negotiations are underway at this time and consequently it is not appropriate to comment on any sites.