HC Deb 09 March 2004 vol 418 cc1431-2W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to sell its premises in Beeches Road, Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement. [159994]

Maria Eagle

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 9 March 2004:

As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning plans to sell off the Jobcentre Plus premises at Beeches Road, Chelmsford. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

In Essex, Jobcentre Plus consulted with partners and stakeholders during 2001 and 2002 and their views were taken into account in the final delivery plan that has now been put into place across this District.

Jobcentre Plus has now been introduced to all the offices in Essex District, including Beeches Road, to deliver a radical change in the way that benefits and employment services are provided to people of working age. We have no current plans to vacate that office.

Through the development of these new modern offices, we are providing an integrated, work-focused service to all people of working age. The introduction of work-focused interviews is extending the opportunity to more people who are taking advantage of the help, guidance and support we can provide to assist them to move into sustainable employment.

In all our plans we have focused on the needs of our customers. The new offices offer customers a seamless service, where they are able to make enquires about their benefit entitlement, and the training and employment opportunities available to them, under one roof.

In addition to these services Jobcentre Plus provides access to a telephone contact centre network where our customers are able to make enquiries without having to come into one of our offices. Our Beeches Road site offers both face to face and contact centre services.

Jobcentre Plus keeps under constant review our Estates and operational delivery to customers. I hope it will reassure you to know that, at the present time, there are no plans to vacate the Beeches Road premises