Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Jobcentre Plus Offices: Closure

Andy Slaughter Excerpts
Monday 30th January 2017

(7 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Caroline Nokes Portrait Caroline Nokes
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Of course, many disabled claimants access our services very successfully online, but, as I have said, the DWP has a home visiting service which we can extend to all disabled claimants who ask for it when their circumstances make it difficult for them to go to a jobcentre. We want our work coaches to provide tailored support for each of their claimants, to have a relationship with them, and to understand their specific needs.

Andy Slaughter Portrait Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab)
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It is difficult to square the Minister’s claim that she is merging smaller jobcentres into larger ones with her plan to close Hammersmith, our busiest jobcentre in our main town centre. Coming on top of the closure of courts, post offices and police stations, is this not the hollowing out of vital public services from our towns and cities?

Caroline Nokes Portrait Caroline Nokes
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No, it is not the hollowing out of public services; it is finding the best way to deliver services to our jobseekers at the most cost-effective price for the taxpayer.