I’m disappointed to announce that as we feared, the Government is going to close the Defence Business Services (DBS) unit which employs a significant number of my constituents at its premises in Norcross.

In 2014, the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) merged with Defence Business Services, to create one of the largest shared service centres in Europe, providing support for all armed forces and civilian personnel as well as providing veterans support.

The Ministry of Defence says it will ‘dispose’ of DBS by 2023 and civilian staff will be moved to a Government hub somewhere in the North West. Consultations are apparently taking place with the Trade Unions.

Once again a significant employer is being lost in an area already suffering from poverty and deprivation. If you are concerned about these developments, please get in touch and I’ll do all I can to help.