Jobcentre closures 'irresponsible’

The planned closure of 20 Jobcentres by the Department for Work and Pensions is “unthinkable and irresponsible” at a time of high unemployment, the PCS civil service union says.

The plans include six Jobcentres in Scotland and four in London, as well as three in the North West and two in the Midlands.

The threatened closures come as the latest official unemployment figures show the number of people claiming out of work benefits increased by 24,500 to 1.52 million between May and June — the largest rise for more than two years.

The closure announcement comes just a few weeks after plans to close 17 benefit centres and five Jobcentre Plus call centres were announced.

The PCS has pledged to campaign to keep these offices open, serving the public. Unlike the benefit and call centre closures, the latest proposal is subject to a six-week public consultation.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This is an unprecedented withdrawal of our public employment services and is unthinkable and irresponsible. It has been proved that when public servants in jobcentres are given adequate resources they have the best record in getting people back to work."

www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id/DA896300-41BB-4068-90BFAD6C9885C9A3