Scottish politicians have reacted angrily to news that more Jobcentre Plus offices are to close in Scotland. Holyrood’s Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said the cuts are disproportionate while both Green MSP Alison Johnstone and North and Leith MP Deirdre Brock said the decision is ‘wrong-headed’.
The Department of Work and Pensions plans to close seven job centres and eight administration sites, on top of plans announced last month to close eight job centres in Glasgow.Under the latest proposals Edinburgh will lose the city centre job centre in South St Andrew Street.
Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said: “I am deeply concerned about the closure of yet more Jobcentre Plus offices in Scotland and the potential impact these will have on people looking for support to find a job, and how people in communities across Scotland will be able to access their local Jobcentre Plus.
“This announcement has been shambolically handled today by the UK Government who are yet again ignoring the needs of people in Scotland. Not only have they announced these closures without any advance consultation with the communities who will be affected, they also bypassed the Scottish Government, going against the principles of the Smith Agreement.
“These disproportionate cuts to Scottish services will lead to people across Scotland, especially those in rural areas, facing increased transport costs and additional travelling time, particularly those required to engage with their Work Coach daily or weekly.
“The closures will affect vulnerable people who struggle to access services, including those with health and mobility problems. I am particularly concerned at the increased risk of benefit sanctions, pushing people into crises and desperation, and make it more difficult for them to find employment.
“As we move towards the launch of the Scottish Government’s transitional employment services this year, we need to be in a position where we can offer people support and work that aligns with Jobcentre Plus; not see the UK Government take services away and make them harder to access.”
Alison Johnstone MSP, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, branded plans by the UK Government to close a raft of job centres and offices as ‘wrong-headed’.
Alison Johnstone, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said: “The UK Government appears determined to punish the very people who need the most support in our society. They should be making it easier, not harder, to find employment.
“Not everyone has reliable access to the internet or can afford to make the numerous phone calls needed to speak to prospective employers. There’s also the cost of travelling longer distances to job centres. It’s simply wrong-headed.
“I’m also concerned at what this means for staff. These changes will be hugely disruptive and while the DWP says that most staff will have the option to relocate or take alternative roles, that won’t suit everyone. Staff should not pay the price for UK Ministers’ obsession with cutting back on social protections.”
Deirdre Brock, Edinburgh North and Leith MP, also criticised the plans. Commenting on the news that the Jobcentre on South St Andrew’s Street was set to ‘relocate’ to the jobcentres in High Riggs and Wester Hailes, Ms Brock said: “Announcing plans to close a Jobcentre then calling it a ‘relocation’ shows the trend for ‘alternative facts’ has caught on with the UK Government.
“It’s not clear how the services will be split between High Riggs and Wester Hailes, but sending people from such an easy-accessed, central location to the other side of the city just doesn’t make sense. We need to break down barriers to finding work, not build new ones. I’ll be seeking a rethink of this wrong-headed plan.”
The affected locations across Scotland are:
Inverness – DWP assessment centre
Aberdeen, Greyfriars House – DWP administration centre
Alexandria – Jobcentre
Broxburn – Jobcentre
Coatbridge – DWP administration centre
Edinburgh, South St Andrew Street – Jobcentre
Glasgow Portcullis House – DWP administration centre
Inverness, Church Street – Jobcentre and DWP administration centre
Larkhall – Jobcentre
Paisley, Lonend – DWP administration centre.
Port Glasgow – Jobcentre
Benbecula, Jobcentre
Cumnock – DWP administration centre
Glasgow, Corunna House – DWP administration centre
Wick, Girnigoe – Jobcentre to move to Caithness House.
Lanark – Jobcentre to move to South Lanarkshire Council office, South Vennel
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