Future of the DWP estate

MPs will debate the ‘Future of the DWP estate’ on Wednesday 18 January 2017 at 2.30 pm in Westminster Hall. Margaret Ferrier MP will lead the debate.

In 1998 the Department for Work and Pensions signed a 20-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with a private sector partner for the provision of serviced office accommodation. The contract is due to end in March 2018 and the Department is committed to reducing the size of its estate by 20% and increasing “co-location” of Jobcentre Plus offices with other local services such as local authority benefit teams and mental health services.

On 7 December 2016 DWP announced plans to close 8 out of the 16 Jobcentres in Glasgow, as part of its review. A Westminster Hall debate on the closures took place on 20 December, and an online consultation on the proposed closure of three of the Glasgow Jobcentres runs until 31 January. The implications of the Department’s review of its estate for Jobcentres and DWP offices elsewhere in Great Britain are not yet clear.  Discussions with landlords are ongoing.

This House of Commons Library briefing updates the Debate Pack produced for the debate on 20 December in Jobcentre closures in Glasgow. It covers the debate on 20 December and other statements about the wider review of the DWP estate.  More detailed background, press releases, press articles and relevant earlier parliamentary material can be found in the previous Debate Pack.