PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
DWP ESTATE OFFICE CLOSURES (10 July 2017)

That this House is deeply concerned at the announcement by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of the closure of almost one in 10 jobcentres; notes that only six of the original 78 earmarked for closure have been reprieved and two which were not under threat will now close; further notes that only 11 of the 80 planned to co-locate with local authorities have been given a reprieve; recognises that this will create difficulties in accessing services for many of the most vulnerable people and affects many areas of multiple deprivation; fears that this puts hundreds of staff at risk of redundancy; is disturbed to learn that the Department has not published any equality impact assessments or analyses; regrets that all but two back-of-house offices that were originally proposed for closure, as well as several corporate centre offices, are also to be closed; believes that those decisions will inevitably have a detrimental impact upon the communities affected; and calls on the Government to halt this ill-considered decimation of the DWP estate.

Sponsored by:
Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party)