§ Mr. CrowtherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployment benefit offices and jobcentres have been closed during normal opening hours because of staff shortages during the last 12 months.
§ Mr. EggarThe employment service does not keep detailed records of short-term closures during normal opening hours by its 2,000 offices.
Employment service managers have the authority to vary opening arrangements in the event of serious staff absences. Typically these absences impact most heavily on small offices with managers responding by closing at lunch time or in the case of part-time offices reducing the number of days they are open.
538WCurrently some 20 offices are closed or are providing much reduced services because of industrial action by some staff. I deplore the industrial action, but I am grateful for the efforts being made by other staff members to avoid hardship to unemployed people and to ensure that benefits are paid on time.