Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the decision to close 42 offices of the Department for Work and Pensions is part of his Department’s wider plan to reduce the size of the Civil Service; and if he will make an announcement on that wider plan.

Across government, we are committed to a range of programmes to support transformation across departments, functions and locations. These will ensure that workforce structures better match the requirements of the future, including in terms of services delivery across the Civil Service.

Spending Review 21 confirmed savings of 5% against day-to-day central departmental budgets in 2024-25 that have been reinvested into priority areas. These efficiencies will mean that the Government can reduce non-frontline Civil Service headcount to 2019-20 levels by 2024-25, helping to fund increases to frontline roles. This will mean a more productive and agile Civil Service, taking advantage of new ways of working to continue to reduce inefficiencies and deliver better outcomes for the public.

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