Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to improve digital access for jobcentre customers in areas previously served by Easterhouse Jobcentre.

Customers previously served by Easterhouse and Parkhead Jobcentres are now served by Shettleston Jobcentre. A number of activities have been undertaken in Shettleston Jobcentre to improve digital access for customers including:

• Weekly sessions in the office’s “Digi Suite” to provide help with job searching using smartphones and tablets.
• On-going customer sessions on digitally compiling a CV.
• On-going customer sessions on managing their Universal Credit account.
• Daily Drop in sessions to help customers upload medical certificates.
• Customer sessions providing support for customers applying for on-line vacancies I.E. HMRC, Royal Mail and Community Jobs Scotland vacancies.
• Daily full-time digital support provided for customers with Universal Credit access problems I.E. lost log in details, navigating their account, how to use of journal message etc.
• 15 customer access computers available for drop in use.
• 8 computers in the “Digi Suite” are available for group sessions.

In addition, Shettleston Jobcentre has a number of partners located within the office to provide supplementary support to customers. This includes:

• Citizens Advice located in jobcentre for “Help to Claim “.
• Jobs and Business Glasgow provide additional support with CV’s, job searching, online support and confidence building.
• Momentum provide support with CV’s, Job searching, online support and confidence building.

All MPs are encouraged to visit and engage with their local Jobcentres and the Service Leaders to keep up to date with innovations.