Labour closes Job Centre

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF FAVERSHAM JOB CENTRE

Jane Kennedy, the Minister of State at the Department of Work and Pensions has today written to Hugh Robertson, the MP for Faversham, confirming the government’s decision to close the Faversham Job Centre. A copy of her letter is attached.

Hugh said: “I am extremely disappointed by the government’s decision to close our Job Centre. It will come as a huge blow to many people in the town.

I have no doubt that the new computerised arrangements will benefit some but there remains a small group of seriously disadvantaged unemployed who need a face to face service. I also suspect that the fact that only 167 people currently receive Job Seekers Allowances camouflages the fact that the numbers receiving disability allowance, in Faversham alone, has risen by 600 since 1997.

“I will ask the Borough Council to see if there is a case for a judicial review. Failing that, the key thing now is to secure the best possible number of improvements to the proposed service in Faversham.”