Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who within his Department took the decision to close the Wallasey Jobcentre Plus in Liscard; when that decision was taken; which criteria were employed in taking that decision; and when he will publish the business case for that decision.

No decision has been made regarding the proposed closure of Wallasey Jobcentre Plus.

We are currently in a period of consultation with key stakeholders ending Friday 18 September. A formal decision will be made after this time.

As part of our ‘business as usual’ approach to achieving value for money from all our DWP estate, we routinely seek opportunities to make better use of the estate. This includes estate we currently have as well as opportunities to co-locate with other key stakeholders where the service to our claimants can be maintained or improved. The proposal to relocate services and staff from Wallasey Jobcentre into Birkenhead is part of that approach.