<p>For commercial reasons, the Department is unable to provide any information on the cost of the Rapid Estates Expansion Programme at this stage.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>The Department cannot say how long the new sites will remain open as they are being used to temporarily supplement the existing Jobcentre network to help meet the current increase in demand for services - ensuring that there is the space to operate safely in the interests of both colleagues and customers. The short term leases provide flexibility, which will enable the Department to ‘downsize / right-size’ as the economy recovers and / or social distancing requirements are eased. If any of the new sites offer better, more suitable, accommodation than our existing offices the Department may look to retain them.</p>