Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an estimate of the potential savings generated by selling Jobcentre buildings and co-locating with other public bodies.

DWP continually review One Public Estate opportunities, and at any time, a number of these are individually being evaluated. The department’s estate is leased rather than owned, so there are no opportunities to sell buildings. However, there can be divestment running cost savings, although these need to be balanced by the material investment costs of re-location to new premises, which are typically substantial.

In each case, a value for money assessment is undertaken, alongside customer and operational considerations.