<p>The Relocation of DWP Jobs</p>

Part of 2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 2:27 pm on 1 March 2017.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 2:27, 1 March 2017

The Member makes two very good points. I’m more than happy to write again on the equality point. I would just like to reiterate that it isn’t devolved to us, obviously; we have sought to make sure that the DWP is aware that we’re happy to work with them on co-location—correct co-location—with many of the Welsh Government services as well as other non-devolved services. I’m happy to do that publicly again; I’ve already written to that effect.

We stand ready, of course, if people do find themselves made redundant, to assist with our ReAct programmes and all of the other programmes, as we always do, to help affected staff. But I share the Member’s concern and the concern of Julie Morgan that these proposals are driven by estate management and not by community-focused opportunities. The UK Government has a wider duty to the people of Wales than just to manage its estate in a property-efficient way, and to take into account the wider implications of its investment decisions in its estate on the communities of Wales. We have urged them to do that and I’m very happy to do so again.