Unions have reacted furiously to an announcement today that Old Swan job centre will close with the loss of twenty-one jobs. The Prescot Road facility is one of twenty offices the DWP intend to close.

An Office for Budget Responsibility report prepared for the budget in March forecast unemployment will be higher throughout 2012 than it was at the beginning of this year. Jobcentre Plus has already cut more than 10,000 staff since 2009 and this latest decision will mean job seekers having to travel further to access services including assistance in returning to work.

Peter Middleman, Regional Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union condemned the decision as “unthinkable and irresponsible”. He said,“Old Swan has 23% unemployment so closing a vital community resource at this time is unthinkable, irresponsible and raises serious questions about the governments welfare reform programme. We’ll be talking to local MP’s, community groups and other unions about what we do next during a six-week consultation period”.

Huyton job centre was earmarked for closure in May this year.

Across the UK in Jobcentre Plus there were 84,000 people at the end of 2009 - there are now 70,000 - and the target for March 2012 is 65, 600.

• For information, interview requests contact PCS Regional Secretary Peter middleman on 0151 298 3900 or 0778811 8136 or Tom Penn PCS DWP Assistant Secretary on 07909 580655
• The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK’s sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich - on Twitter @janicegodrich
• Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union or @PCS_Northwest