Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's paper entitled Proposal for the future of Liverpool Edge Hill and Liverpool Wavertree jobcentres, of January 2017, how the travelling times by public transport between jobcentre offices that are proposed for closure and the new offices have been calculated; and on what (a) time of day and (b) traffic conditions those calculations are based.

Distances and journey times have been calculated using variety of methods to improve accuracy, including Google Maps and AA route mapping, and information collected about local public transport routes with input from local DWP colleagues.

Regardless of the proposed changes, it is important for claimants to allow sufficient time to attend appointments, taking into consideration the time of day and any local traffic conditions, as they do now.