Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of facilitating (a) public consultation and (b) parliamentary scrutiny prior to closing (i) Plymouth and (ii) other Insolvency Service offices; and whether he has made an assessment of the practicalities of requiring staff to relocate in the context of subsequent long commuting times.
Answered by Paul Scully
There has been engagement with a number of stakeholders to date and this will continue as the Insolvency Service transitions from 21 offices to 11 regional centres over the next three years.
Individual office business cases and impact assessments will be monitored as the project progresses. The Insolvency Service is in discussion with affected employees on a range of options, including flexible working and help with increased travel costs, to support a move to their nearest regional centre location