Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress he has made on repairing the Torquay temporary jobcentre; and what his planned timetable is for when the work will be completed.

DWP announced the decommissioning of the Torquay Temporary Jobcentre on 17 May 2023. Customers and staff exited the site by June. The Department is in the process of preparing the site ready to hand back to the landlord.

We sincerely apologise that this work has taken so long. Since this issue was brought to our attention, we have escalated this to ensure the contractor completes the work as a matter of urgency.

The Department has provided the honourable member with a letter from DWP Estates with further information and a full explanation of the delay, which resulted from a combination of supplier failure and the transition to decommissioning this site.

We can confirm that replacement glazing units have been ordered and the Department will ensure installation is completed as quickly as possible.