he Department of Work and Pensions is set to close 20 Jobcentres, including three in London, but no staff will be laid off.
All of the locations in question were set up as temporary Jobcentres during the Covid-19 pandemic because of “anticipated pressures on the labour market”, DWP undersecretary Viscount Younger of Leckie said.
“The Department has always been clear the additional Jobcentres were opened on a temporary basis to help us adapt our services and support in response to the pandemic,” Viscount Younger added.
In total, DWP set up 194 temporary Jobcentres in 2021 and 2022. Younger said the government would eventually close any of these which are no longer required.
“The decommissioning of these additional temporary sites, where they are no longer required, will not reduce our levels of service or access to face-to-face appointments going forward,” he said. “Most customers will return to being served by their established Jobcentre and there will be no reduction in the number of Work Coaches serving customers as a result of these changes.”
Read MoreRevealed: how many days FTSE 100 firms have staff in the officeRMT union rejects ‘final offers’ from Network Rail and train operating companiesRMT union rejects latest offers from Network Rail and train operating companiesLawrence Dallaglio’s Rugby PodcastA DWP spokesperson added that there will be no layoffs as a result of the decision.
“We no longer need the temporary space we acquired during the pandemic due to social distancing,” they said. “To continue providing our essential employment support and other services in a way that is cost efficient for the taxpayer, we are phasing out these temporarily leased sites and our staff and all customer services will return to the nearby established Jobcentre.
“The closing of these temporary sites will not reduce our levels of service, or access to face-to-face appointments. Customers will return to being served by their established Jobcentre and there will be no reduction in the number of Work Coaches serving customers as a result.”
The three London locations to close are in Hackney, Kentish Town and Tooting. In addition, an extra floor that was set up in the London Sutton Carew Jobcentre will close, but the remainder of the office will remain open.
The full list of Jobcentres affected is below:
Aylesbury, High StreetBath, PinesgateBlyth, Percy StreetBurnley, Charter Walk Shopping CentreDundee, West MarketgaitGateshead, Metro CentreHalifax, Broad Street PlazaInverness, Glendoe TerraceIpswich, St Vincent HouseKettering, High StreetLeeds, Kirkstall BurleyLincoln, Brayford Wharf EastLondon Hackney,London Kentish TownLondon Sutton CarewLondon TootingStevenage, Gunnels Wood RoadSunderland, Tavistock PlaceSwindon, Canal WalkWigan, Mesnes Street