Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the loss of jobs and the impact on the high street arising from the closure of some House of Fraser stores.

House of Fraser has stated that stores identified for closure are expected to remain open until early 2019 and have committed to supporting workers affected, but we recognise that it must be a concerning time for House of Fraser employees. The Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus will work with the company to understand the level of employee support required. Jobcentre Plus’s Rapid Response Service is ready to help workers get back into employment as soon as possible.

On the 18 June 2018, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced that they will launch a call for evidence over the summer looking at the future of our high street. They intend to establish an expert panel to diagnose the issues currently affecting the high street.