CLOSURE OF JOBCENTRE PLUS OFFICES

That this House is concerned at the ongoing programme of job cuts and office closures in the Jobcentre Plus network; notes that since May 2010 40 jobcentres and benefit processing offices across the UK have been announced for closure, with more expected over the next four years; is concerned that 350 jobs are at risk across 13 benefit processing sites, despite initial Government commitments to redeployment and without compulsory redundancies; further notes that unemployment rose by 114,000 to 2.57 million in September 2011, with 1.6 million people claiming jobseeker's allowance and that the Office for Budgetary Responsibility predicts this figure will rise; further notes that 12,000 jobs in the Jobcentre Plus network have been cut over the last 18 months; believes that cutting jobs that are crucial to the efficient administration of the benefit system at a time of rising unemployment and fundamental reform of the welfare system will hit the most vulnerable hardest and increase social inequality; and calls on the Government to reconsiderits decision to shrink the Jobcentre Plus network at a time of high unemployment.