Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 13 December 2016 to Questions 56723 and 56760, on what dates and in what locations Ministers of his Department have met with Ministers of the Scottish Government to discuss the job centre estate in Glasgow and Scotland.

The department meet regularly with Scottish Government officials and Ministers are routinely briefed on the outcomes of those discussions. However, commercial sensitivities have limited our ability for detailed discussions with Scottish Government on specific site proposals. In recent months DWP officials have been in discussion with local authorities, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Government regarding the overall estates strategy.

We remain committed to working with Scottish Government and other stakeholders to ensure effective support for unemployed people.

I held a meeting last week with the MP’s for Glasgow, Rutherglen and Hamilton West to discuss the proposals for the jobcentre estate in Glasgow.