Jobcentres: Glasgow

(asked on 1st December 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2017 to Questions 116201, 116202, 116204 and 116205, whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment of the potential effect of the increase of vehicular activity on air quality in the vicinity of Shettleston Jobcentre following the merger of that jobcentre with Bridgeton, Easterhouse and Parkhead jobcentres.


Answered by
Damian Hinds Portrait
Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
This question was answered on 6th December 2017

Accessibility and transport for staff and claimants were considered as part of the planning of the mergers which make best use of space at Shettleston Jobcentre. Local managers are in regular contact with Glasgow City Council and police who are aware of these moves and have not identified any specific issues to date. We have agreed that the reconfigured service will be an agenda item at key stakeholder meetings over the coming months so that we are reviewing the situation and working together to ensure parking, transport and access issues are addressed as part of our partnership agenda.

There is no legal requirement for the Department to conduct an impact assessment on potential effects of traffic, parking or air quality in the vicinity of Shettleston Jobcentre.

The Shettleston office has been significantly under-utilised in recent years but has previously accommodated in excess of 120 staff and related customer service activity with no issues relating to parking or transport.

It is worth reiterating that due to the complexity of the commercial process with negotiations on hundreds of leases and to protect our commercial position, we were unable to discuss information about specific offices until negotiations concluded and plans announced. However, there are no concerns from these stakeholders regarding traffic or parking at this time.

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