THE UK Department for Work and Pension’s decision to close the Jobcentre in Port Glasgow will “push many vulnerable people into crisis”, according to the MP for Inverclyde.
Ronnie Cowan of the SNP said that one of his first actions after being re-elected at the snap General Election in June was to write to the Minister for Employment, Damian Hinds, and request that he visit Inverclyde to see for himself the impact the closure would have on the local community.
Cowan said that this letter has never been acknowledged and that he again extended the invitation to the minister during a Westminster debate on the issue last month – led by fellow SNP MP Chris Stephens – and again received no answer.
Since then, Cowan has been informed by local Jobcentre management that the Port Glasgow branch will be closing on October 30, earlier than originally proposed. The Inverclyde MP did not receive any information from the UK Government on this most recent development.
The Government said the Jobcentre is becoming increasingly underused and plan to merge the centre with its site in Greenock.
“It’s clear that the closure is purely a cost-saving exercise and I’ve yet to see the UK Government show any genuine concern for the impact that this action will have on the people who use these vital services,” said Cowan.
“Twenty six per cent of children in Inverclyde live in poverty, one in 10 lives in severe poverty. This should qualify Inverclyde for additional support from the UK Government, yet Inverclyde is set to experience one of the most significant falls in welfare spending of any Scottish area, relative to the working age population.”
Cowan added that the closure would lead constituents to question the Government’s willingness to tackle poverty in the West of Scotland.
The Government said that its aim is to reduce underutilisation of Jobcentres and to save money while providing a better service. They also aim to move towards more modern and fully digital offices.
“Port Glasgow Jobcentre Plus is becoming increasingly underused, particularly as more of our services are offered online. Merging the jobcentre with our site in Greenock means we can continue to provide a first-rate level of service to our claimants,” said a DWP spokesperson.
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