As part of the Department’s plans to reshape how, when and where the Department works, (resulting in a smaller, greener and better estate); we plan to relocate all 198 colleagues and our services from Bradford East, Leeds Road to Bradford, Ambler Mill which is approximately 1.5 miles away by 14 October 2022.

While it is anticipated that, due to the close proximity of the offices, colleagues will be able to move to Bradford Amber Mill, for those colleagues who are unable to move because of their individual circumstances, redeployment will be the priority.

DWP is making every effort to fully support colleagues through this process. As a responsible employer, the Department will make provision for redundancies as necessary. However, this will be a last resort after all efforts to retain, retrain and redeploy colleagues, either within DWP or other Government Departments in the area, have been exhausted.

The Department is fully compliant in its duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. To understand the potential impact of changes to our estate, both for DWP employees and people using its services, Equality Analyses have been carried out wherever our plans are to close an office or relocate colleagues. The findings have been used to understand the potential impact of changes to our estate on people. The initial assessment is based on self-declared data provided by employees and held on the Department’s HR data system. It is only once the one-to-one process is complete that we will have the full detail of the impact on individuals and be able to consider appropriate solutions for colleagues.

As part of the Department’s plans to reshape how, when and where the Department works, (resulting in a smaller, greener and better estate); we plan to relocate all 198 colleagues and our services from Bradford East, Leeds Road to Bradford, Ambler Mill which is approximately 1.5 miles away by 14 October 2022.

While it is anticipated that, due to the close proximity of the offices, colleagues will be able to move to Bradford Amber Mill, for those colleagues who are unable to move because of their individual circumstances, redeployment will be the priority.

DWP is making every effort to fully support colleagues through this process. As a responsible employer, the Department will make provision for redundancies as necessary. However, this will be a last resort after all efforts to retain, retrain and redeploy colleagues, either within DWP or other Government Departments in the area, have been exhausted.

The Department is fully compliant in its duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. To understand the potential impact of changes to our estate, both for DWP employees and people using its services, Equality Analyses have been carried out wherever our plans are to close an office or relocate colleagues. The findings have been used to understand the potential impact of changes to our estate on people. The initial assessment is based on self-declared data provided by employees and held on the Department’s HR data system. It is only once the one-to-one process is complete that we will have the full detail of the impact on individuals and be able to consider appropriate solutions for colleagues.

As part of the Department’s plans to reshape how, when and where the Department works, (resulting in a smaller, greener and better estate); we plan to relocate all 198 colleagues and our services from Bradford East, Leeds Road to Bradford, Ambler Mill which is approximately 1.5 miles away by 14 October 2022.

While it is anticipated that, due to the close proximity of the offices, colleagues will be able to move to Bradford Amber Mill, for those colleagues who are unable to move because of their individual circumstances, redeployment will be the priority.

DWP is making every effort to fully support colleagues through this process. As a responsible employer, the Department will make provision for redundancies as necessary. However, this will be a last resort after all efforts to retain, retrain and redeploy colleagues, either within DWP or other Government Departments in the area, have been exhausted.

The Department is fully compliant in its duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. To understand the potential impact of changes to our estate, both for DWP employees and people using its services, Equality Analyses have been carried out wherever our plans are to close an office or relocate colleagues. The findings have been used to understand the potential impact of changes to our estate on people. The initial assessment is based on self-declared data provided by employees and held on the Department’s HR data system. It is only once the one-to-one process is complete that we will have the full detail of the impact on individuals and be able to consider appropriate solutions for colleagues.

As part of the Department’s plans to reshape how, when and where the Department works, (resulting in a smaller, greener and better estate); we plan to relocate all 198 colleagues and our services from Bradford East, Leeds Road to Bradford, Ambler Mill which is approximately 1.5 miles away by 14 October 2022.

While it is anticipated that, due to the close proximity of the offices, colleagues will be able to move to Bradford Amber Mill, for those colleagues who are unable to move because of their individual circumstances, redeployment will be the priority.

DWP is making every effort to fully support colleagues through this process. As a responsible employer, the Department will make provision for redundancies as necessary. However, this will be a last resort after all efforts to retain, retrain and redeploy colleagues, either within DWP or other Government Departments in the area, have been exhausted.

The Department is fully compliant in its duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. To understand the potential impact of changes to our estate, both for DWP employees and people using its services, Equality Analyses have been carried out wherever our plans are to close an office or relocate colleagues. The findings have been used to understand the potential impact of changes to our estate on people. The initial assessment is based on self-declared data provided by employees and held on the Department’s HR data system. It is only once the one-to-one process is complete that we will have the full detail of the impact on individuals and be able to consider appropriate solutions for colleagues.

Since being appointed, the Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency has visited Glass Wharf, Bristol, on Friday 22 April. Travel was provided by the Government Car Service. No accommodation costs were incurred. Costs for printing in support of the visit were not outside that usually provided.

The Minister also regularly attends government offices within London for meetings as part of his duties. Travel is usually provided by the Government Car Service and printing costs did not materially differ from those usually incurred.

During working hours in winter, the main heating flow temperature supplied by the boilers in the Palace of Westminster is varied depending on the outside air temperature and so a definitive answer cannot be provided. Offices used by the House of Lords in Millbank House and Old Palace Yard are monitored and are heated to 21°C during working hours in winter

Reducing the temperature by 2°C across all offices would reduce the energy demand from space heating by approximately 15%. However, due consideration must be given to the outside air temperature, activities being carried out within the offices, and the individual circumstances of people within the offices. Reducing the temperature by 2°C may also encourage the use of portable electric heaters which use more energy.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency owns the building that accommodates South Shields driving test centre.

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the planned closure of her Department’s offices.

People are being asked to move either three miles or eight miles away. They are having one-to-one bespoke meetings asking them how they would like to carry on working. As I say, all 411 jobs will be staying in the civil service because such important back-office jobs are needed. People are being asked to find where the best place is for them to work. If they want to carry on working in other civil service jobs in the area, they can transfer.

The moving of 411 jobs from Chorlton in my constituency will have a serious impact on the district centre and the shops and services that they help sustain; undoubtedly, the same will apply to the other 40 offices in towns and suburbs across the country. How do those office closures contribute to the Government’s stated aim of spreading civil service jobs around the country and, indeed, to levelling up?

The hon. Lady asks a number of questions. Regarding the question asked by the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Jeff Smith), the landlord wants the property back and wants to redevelop the area, which will bring other jobs to the area. However, the

most important thing is, on these very important back-office jobs for these 411 people, that they are not looking at any reduction in headcount.

I am on a roll, Mr Speaker. The last time I asked whether the Government are planning to sack hard-working civil servants, as the Minister for Government Efficiency has proposed, he sidestepped the question. Now we know why. The Government have since announced the closure of 41 DWP offices across the country, in the middle of an economic crisis and when their services are needed more than ever. All of the offices being closed entirely are outside London, and the vast majority are in the very areas that have been promised more investment. So much for levelling up.

Will the Minister now tell us just how many jobs are at risk? Will she guarantee that there will be no compulsory redundancies, and will she explain how this fits into the Government’s plan to reform the civil service?

The Department for Work and Pensions locations plan is in line with the wider Government Places for Growth programme. That programme aims to deliver a more geographically diverse civil and public service that will better serve the public. The recent announcements will support the DWP’s delivery of a strategy that will, over the next 10 years, reshape how, where and when it delivers services. These closures are not part of a plan to reduce headcount.

The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.

Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.

There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.

The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:

• 2016 = £286,452.00
• 2017 = £297,113.00
• 2018 = £262,725.00
• 2019 = £282,882.00
• 2020 = £143,047.00
• 2021 = £219,279.00

The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.

Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.

There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.

The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:

• 2016 = £286,452.00
• 2017 = £297,113.00
• 2018 = £262,725.00
• 2019 = £282,882.00
• 2020 = £143,047.00
• 2021 = £219,279.00

The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.

Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.

There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.

The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:

• 2016 = £286,452.00
• 2017 = £297,113.00
• 2018 = £262,725.00
• 2019 = £282,882.00
• 2020 = £143,047.00
• 2021 = £219,279.00

The ground lease at South Shields driving test centre (DTC) ends on 19/12/2119.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not pay annual rent for South Shields DTC, but it is responsible for all the annual running costs including maintenance.

Many of the sites used by the DVSA deliver more than just the driving test service, and vary in size and capacity. The DVSA estimates the average annual rental of single purpose driving test sites is £16,400 per annum.

There has only been one lease over the last 10 years, which is the current ground lease.

The following data shows the income from driving tests at South Shields DTC over the last five years:

• 2016 = £286,452.00
• 2017 = £297,113.00
• 2018 = £262,725.00
• 2019 = £282,882.00
• 2020 = £143,047.00
• 2021 = £219,279.00

As the Levelling Up White Paper set out, departments have committed to moving more than 15,000 Civil Service roles out of Greater London by 2025, and 22,000 by 2030. By the end of 2021, more than 2,000 Civil Service jobs had already been relocated from Greater London under the Places for Growth programme.

Questions relating to the closure of DWP offices should be addressed to my Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

As the Levelling Up White Paper set out, departments have committed to moving more than 15,000 Civil Service roles out of Greater London by 2025, and 22,000 by 2030. By the end of 2021, more than 2,000 Civil Service jobs had already been relocated from Greater London under the Places for Growth programme.

Questions relating to the closure of DWP offices should be addressed to my Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.