Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job centres will close to the public before the lease on their premises expires in the next three years.

This information is commercially sensitive.

However the Word document attached lists the jobcentres that are due to move their services to other sites and to close by 31 March 2018. Exact dates for these sites are still being agreed but closures will be through a phased approach.

We are taking a phased approach to the closure of these Jobcentres because there are a significant number of activities that need to take place to move people, our customers and caseloads to the importing Jobcentre. In phasing this work in this way, we can minimise the risk of any disruption to vital services. For the vast majority of DWP offices there will be no change in location. Where we are closing a site, we will take all possible precautions to minimise disruption for customers.

This will mean that the DWP will be able to offer a more efficient service, while delivering good value for the taxpayer and saving over £140 million a year for the next 10 years.