DWP Estate
Debate between Margaret Greenwood and Nadine Dorries(7 years, 11 months ago)
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Margaret Greenwood
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that contribution. The comments from the hon. Member for North Swindon were totally relevant, then.
It is immensely important that the DWP estate is managed with due respect for the impact that any changes might have on claimants, their families, their communities and those who work there. For those who work there, the concerns are about job losses, the down- grading of posts and increased case loads. Will the Government comment on how they will manage the estate for the future? What are their plans for future technology, the changing roles of DWP staff and the introduction of in-work conditionality, which will require that those in work demonstrate that they are searching for more work? How will that will impact on the people in Glasgow who are having their jobcentres removed?
The changes are important for the people of Glasgow, but they are also important for the rest of the country, as has been clearly stated. I am short of time.
Nadine Dorries (in the Chair)
Ms Greenwood, you have 10 minutes for your speech as a Front-Bench spokesperson.
Margaret Greenwood
Thank you. There have been several comments on the level of unemployment in the area. The latest claimant count shows that 5,810 people are registered as unemployed at the eight jobcentres threatened with closure. I would be interested to hear what will happen when those centres close. I understand that the remaining jobcentres in Glasgow will have to deal with twice the volume of claimants as a result. That is especially a concern for the Shettleston jobcentre, which will take on the case load from three of the jobcentres that will close. Can the Minister provide us with a breakdown of the expected increase in case loads for those jobcentres that will remain open? What will be done to help the DWP staff who have to deal with that increased workload?