Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions she has had with Wilko on their announcement of bankruptcy and the potential closure of stores.

It is not appropriate for Government to involve itself in the running of an independent business. Nor is it appropriate to be involved in the independent exercise of the administration of a business.

Officials at the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service have been working with the Administrators of Wilko to ensure that statutory redundancy payments can be made to the former employees as soon as possible. Retail officials have had regular engagement with the administrators, PwC, the GMB Union, as well as DWP, the Cities and Local Growth Unit and the Insolvency Service.

I remain concerned for the many employees who now face an uncertain future. We will continue to provide support to those employees directly impacted by the outcome.