Departmental Office Closures 2024-12-02
2024-12-02
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The decision to close six offices has prompted concerns about staff engagement and impact on local communities. The Department's workforce and location strategy proposes retaining 16 of the existing 22 departmental offices.
What consultation her Department has undertaken with staff on the decision to close six offices?
My Department has set a workforce and location strategy that proposes to retain 16 of the existing 22 departmental offices. This will result in six offices closing over the next two years. Staff engagement on the announcement is ongoing, and consultation on implementing the strategy is beginning this month. My Department will continue to engage with the trade unions and consult with them before the office closure proposals are finalised and implemented.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The proposed closure of an office in Newcastle raises concerns about the impact on staff with protected characteristics and those with caring responsibilities. The Department has previously engaged in efforts to increase working hours at offices.
Can the Secretary of State assure me that there will be an equality impact assessment before any decision is made, to ensure that the needs of those with protected characteristics and caring responsibilities are fully considered?
As my hon. Friend knows, I am a big advocate of flexible working and making sure that we support our colleagues. The Department prepared an initial equality impact assessment in advance of the announcement of the location strategy, which will be developed during the consultation with the staff and the trade unions to inform the mitigations that will support the staff who are affected.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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There is a drive to get civil servants out of London and across the country. The city of Wolverhampton has an existing Departmental presence.
How is the Secretary of State looking at developing and growing the base in Wolverhampton as part of her wider strategy?
The strategy will create a more coherent office estate that enables stronger office communities and transparent career pathways for progression, and we will continue to be represented across each of the regions and nations of the United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific details on developing and growing the base in Wolverhampton were not provided.
Response accuracy