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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if her Department will take steps to support employees affected by the closure of IKEA's store in Coventry.

This will be a concerning time for employees and their families, and we are in contact with IKEA regarding the closure. I can equally assure you that Jobcentre Plus through its Rapid Response unit will work with IKEA to understand the level of employee support required and help all affected employees get back into employment as soon as possible.

Jobcentre Plus’s Rapid Response Service is able to provide tailored support and can include some or all the following:

• Help with job searches, CV writing and interview skills
• Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps, linked to the labour market
• Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry certification that will improve employability
• Help to overcome barriers to attending training, securing a job or self-employment, such as childcare costs, tools, work clothes and travel costs.