Lib Dem MPs and Councillors Join Forces Over Cuts to Camborne Job Centre

5.22.58pm GMT Mon 18th Dec 2006

Lib Dem MPs and Councillors outside Camborne's Jobcentre Plus

Liberal Democrat MPs and Councillors have joined forces today to highlight their concern over cuts to local Jobcentre services in Camborne.

Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy was joined in her constituency by colleague Danny Alexander, who speaks for the Lib Dems on Work and Pensions issues.

They met with representatives of the local Citizens Advice Bureau to discuss the impact of severe cuts made to opening hours at the Jobcentre office in Camborne, as well as wider problems people have been experiencing in processing their benefits.

Camborne Jobcentre recently saw their opening hours drastically cut back to one day a week. There are widespread concerns that this is a precursor to the closure of the office altogether, leaving people living in and around Camborne with no alternative but to find their way to Redruth instead.

After their meeting, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"I am delighted that Danny Alexander has been able to visit the area and meet with the local CAB. Danny has often raised his concerns about the impact the Government's 'efficiency measures' are having at the front line and it has been a good opportunity for him to see what effects they are having in Falmouth and Camborne."

"Camborne Jobcentre Plus is open only one day a week meaning it is not easily accessible for many people seeking advice. The problems inherent in Jobcentre Plus are particularly acute in rural communities such as ours where public transport is unreliable and expensive making access to services a challenge. The government clearly do not seem to be taking this issues into account. "

"I am concerned that the scaling back of hours is simply a precursor to closing the office altogether. I have written to the work and pensions minister to urge him to look again at the resources available in this area.

Councillor Shirley Collings added:

"I know first-hand the impact that the reduced opening hours of the Jobcentre Plus has on local people. As a single mother seeking work, I am only too aware of the impact of these cuts. If people have to visit the Jobcentre on a regular basis, they will have to travel to either Hayle or Redruth at a significant cost to themselves; a cost which is often stretches already very tight budgets."

"Camborne is one of the largest towns in the area - it deserves access to services that reflect this - and the Jobcentre should be no exception. It is astonishing that Redruth and Hayle have Jobcentres that are open more frequently when their populations are smaller than Camborne."

Danny Alexander MP said:

"Our meeting has been very timely, only this morning John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has suggested there could be moves to cut - or even stop - benefits for those who cannot find a job. There is a huge gap between rhetoric and reality here. While the government threatens strict sanctions for those who don't find work, at the same time they are making it more difficult for those on benefits to access the help they need to seek employment."