JOBCENTRE NETWORK

That this House welcomes the Government's decision to halt the jobcentre closure programme; notes that significant gaps have been left in the jobcentre network due to the closure of nearly 500 jobcentre plus offices since 2002; further notes that jobcentres are facing an enlarged workload due to the economic downturn; expresses concern that increasing numbers of jobseekers from rural constituencies may have to travel significant distances at a considerable cost to visit a jobcentre plus due to closures; and calls on the Government to reinstate offices that have previously been closed where that is possible and to implement a jobcentre outreach programme that places jobcentre plus staff and computer terminals in existing public buildings such as community centres, libraries and council service points so that jobcentre plus services can reach the widest possible range of communities.