Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants will be required to travel further than the distance considered reasonable by his Department to attend appointments and research job vacancies following the closure of Tredegar jobcentre.

We believe that it is a reasonable expectation that claimants travel to an office within three miles or 20 minutes by public transport of their existing jobcentre. Whilst we accept this may mean a longer journey for some claimants, we do also expect (subject to any specific circumstances) claimants to be available to take work within 90 minutes of their homes. The new site at Ebbw Vale is 2.8 miles and 22 minutes by public transport from Tredegar Jobcentre. We do not, therefore, consider the journey to Ebbw Vale Jobcentre to be excessive and claimants in other parts of the country do travel further.