Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support the Government is offering to the employees affected by the closure of some Homebase stores.

We have mobilised Jobcentre Plus’s Rapid response Service to help workers get back into employment as soon as possible. This service is tailored to individuals’ needs and can include some or all of the following:

- Help with job searches, including CV writing and interview skills;

- Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps, linked to the local labour market;

- Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised certification that will improve employability;

- Help to overcome barriers to attending training, securing a job or self-employment, such as child care costs, tools, work clothes and travel costs.

It is worth noting that in June, Bunnings, the owner of Homebase, announced plans to create over 1,000 new jobs in the UK.