Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish her Department’s (a) equality impact assessment and (b) socio-economic impact assessment of the closure of the Department for Work and Pensions office in Seaham.

An overarching Equality Assessment has been completed which considers the impact on colleagues. This has been made available in the House Library. Individual site Assessments have also been prepared. The planning of an office closure includes consideration of factors including the ‘Index of Multiple Deprivation’ for each location, which considers many factors, including:

· Income Deprivation

· Employment Deprivation

· Education, Skills and Training Deprivation

· Health Deprivation and Disability

· Crime

· Barriers to Housing and Services

· Living Environment Deprivation