MOJ Shared Services Centre (Newport)

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 12 February 2014.

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Photo of Jessica Morden Jessica Morden Labour, Newport East 11:30, 12 February 2014

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the Ministry of Justice’s shared services centre in Newport.

Photo of Stephen Crabb Stephen Crabb The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, The Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Wales Office is in close contact with the Ministry of Justice, which is still at an early stage in evaluating options for the shared services centre in Newport. The Government are committed to ensuring that services are delivered efficiently, while providing value for money for taxpayers.

Photo of Jessica Morden Jessica Morden Labour, Newport East

In December, hundreds of workers at the MOJ’s shared services centre in Newport learned that their jobs could be privatised, and obviously the work force has great concern that jobs could be outsourced or offshored, as we have seen with the Government’s model. Given the bad news that Newport received last week with the potential loss of jobs at Avana Bakeries, will the Minister speak up for public sector workers in Newport and tell the MOJ to abandon its plans?

Photo of Stephen Crabb Stephen Crabb The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, The Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. On the point about Avana Bakeries, she should be aware that I spoke to that company on Friday afternoon; the scenario is obviously very difficult for the city of Newport.

On the shared services centre, the evaluation of options is, as I said in my initial answer, at an early stage, but the Government will work with staff, trade unions and other stakeholders to assess any impact on staff. We are very mindful of the jobs impact on the hon. Lady’s constituency.