Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Jobcentres have reported multiple covid-19 cases in each of the last six months.

The Department has consistently taken a proactive approach to reporting and reviewing all reported cases of Covid-19 infections. This has ensured that wherever possible sites remain open or partially open.

During the 6-month period May to October 2021, 11 offices have been closed for a circuit breaks, 6 of these were closed due to multiple positive cases on the site. Circuit breaks are tight restrictions and/or closures designed to stop and bring the number of cases down.

The following offices were closed or partially closed due to circuit breaks:

• Blackburn Service Centre
• Wigan Jobcentre
• Caxton House (Corporate Centre/Hub)
• Manchester St Peters SQ (Corporate Centre/Hub)
• Dudley Pedmore House Service Centre
• Guisely Jobcentre
• Weymouth Jobcentre
• Newcastle Tyne View Park (Corporate Centre/Hub)
• Caerphilly Jobcentre
• Kirkby Jobcentre
• Montrose Jobcentre

The offices listed above are sites that were closed for a Circuit Break due to the potential of workplace transmission and therefore do not include sites where they were temporarily closed to allow for deep clean to take place.