Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements will be put in place for liaison between Barking Jobcentre Plus and Newham Workplace after the closure of East Ham Jobcentre Plus.

The relocation of the Jobcentre at East Ham to Barking which is 1.6 miles away is still only a proposal at this time.

Where we are proposing to close a jobcentre we are taking all possible precautions to minimise disruption for customers and claimants and we are now collecting local, site-specific information which will be reflected in the final business case and taken fully into consideration when the final decision is made.

Should the decision be made to close East Ham Jobcentre, the Department will continue to work with the Local Authority to ensure any claimant impacted will still have access to support provided by Workplace. Should this involve fares to another Jobcentre, consideration will be made as appropriate on the use of the flexible support fund.