To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department plans to take to support people made redundant due to the closure of Wilkos stores in Portsmouth.

We recognise that this must be a worrying time for Wilkos’ employees and their families.

The Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State will make statutory redundancy and related payments to all eligible employees who have been made redundant. The Redundancy Payments Service has been working with the administrators to ensure that employee claims can be paid as soon as possible.

Further information for employees and creditors can be found at www.gov.uk/government/news/wilko-in-administration-information-for-employees-and-creditors.

DWP’s Rapid Response Service can help affected employees at both national and local level.

The National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) are also speaking to all employers on the national portfolio to identify possible alternative employment opportunities for the Wilko workforce.