Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the sustainability of job centres in rural areas.

We have interpreted ‘sustainability’ to mean the viability of Jobcentres in rural areas.

DWP has a network of 634 established Jobcentres across the UK. The location of Jobcentres needs to balance customer demand, the range of services it needs to offer and operational efficiency.

If a Jobcentre is relocated, the Department fully assesses the likely impact, including completion of an Equality Assessment.

We will be looking to work with a range of partners, including local areas to further develop and deliver our manifesto commitments which will inform wider thinking on the delivery of employment support.