Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the Darlington Filestores site will not be included in the re-tendered contract between his Department and Capita Filestores; and what his plans are for the files held at that facility.

The decision for a single storage solution has been driven by the Department’s Business Strategy;

· To increase digitalisation and move to digital by default which will reduce physical storage requirements.

· To reduce DWP estates requirements.

· To reduce costs and provide greater value for money for the taxpayer.