Jobcentre Plus: Closures

Martin Whitfield Excerpts
Thursday 6th July 2017

(6 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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On co-location, let me be clear that we are happy to work with other authorities, but signing on does have to take place on jobcentre premises. In terms of guarantees and so on, any Government Department has to look sensibly at its estate to ensure that it is deployed efficiently. As I say, we are in an environment where we are in fact increasing frontline staff, not reducing them.

Martin Whitfield Portrait Martin Whitfield (East Lothian) (Lab)
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Given that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation used Glasgow as its study centre in its report on disconnected communities, and suggested very strongly that a well-distributed employment support network is vital, how have the cuts now being applied to Glasgow been objectively, evidentially based?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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It will still be the case that of all the large cities in the United Kingdom, Glasgow, per head of population, will have more jobcentres than any other city.