PRESS RELEASES

 Thursday, 24th November 2005

DWP Job Cuts Must Be Put On Hold Till Benefits Problems Are Resolved

One in three benefit claimants who call a new computerised call system used by Jobcentre Plus call centres is unable to get through, according to figures obtained by the BBC. The figures also show people waiting for up to six weeks to get benefits because processing centres cannot keep up with the workload. The problems follow the loss of 14,215 staff as part of the government's decision to scrap 80,000 civil service jobs over three years.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

These new figures show that there is yet another welfare reform disaster emerging in Labour's third term. These problems are the result of another botched introduction of an IT system. Ministers have introduced an overly complex system which is failing their staff and vulnerable customers. And they have forged ahead with 11,000 job cuts at Jobcentre Plus and plan an additional 9,000 over the next few years. The Department for Work and Pensions should put a hold on job cuts in this area until benefits processing times are back down to their targets.

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4469290.stm  and http://politics.guardian.co.uk/whitehall/story/0,9061,1650474,00.html 
    
2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm