House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 24 Feb 2005 (pt 20)

24 Feb 2005 : Column 813W—continued

Zimbabwe

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what educational, scholarship or hardship funds are made available by his Department to Zimbabwean students wishing to study in the United Kingdom; and what Government assistance is available to Zimbabwean students who, for political or human rights reasons, do not wish to return to Zimbabwe. [217761]

24 Feb 2005 : Column 814W

Mr. Straw: My Department provides support to Zimbabweans wishing to study in the UK through our Chevening Scholarship Programme. This year we are supporting 15 students. A similar number were sponsored last year.

We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Should any student believe that he has a well founded fear of persecution, he is able to apply for asylum in the UK and have it considered in the normal way under the terms of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and British legislation.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Office Closures

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the benefit offices earmarked for closure in Scotland. [217078]

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from David Anderson to Mr. John Thurso, dated 24 February 2005:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the benefit offices earmarked for closure in Scotland. This is something, which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

I have attached, at Annex A, a list of sites in Scotland that have either been closed, merged or are planned for closure as part of the Jobcentre Plus rollout programme and activity to centralise benefit processing. This list includes Social Security Offices, Jobcentres, Jobcentre Plus and Caller Offices in Scotland. Some of the site closures are dependent on the construction of new buildings or the acquisition of new premises.

It may be helpful if I explain that we are shaping the future Jobcentre Plus network in response to changing business needs. The need for face-to-face facilities for jobsearch and other aspects of our business has been superseded in many instances by new business processes and the use of information technology. For example, nationally, over the last 12 months we have seen an increase of over 40 per cent. in the number of hits on our jobsearch website. Encouraging our customers to use these new channels enables us to focus on those customers who need greatest help. We are also working with local partners to establish a Flexible Service Delivery, which will provide our customers with access to our services on third party premises.

I can assure you that we are committed to providing a high standard of customer service in Scotland and we will retain a significant network of offices through which customers can access our services.

I hope you find this helpful.

Annex A: Jobcentre Plus site closures (from April 2002 onwards)

Region Scotland

Site Status

Airdrie, Graham Street —⁽¹²⁾

Alexandria, Mitchell Way —⁽¹²⁾

Alloa, Bank Street —⁽¹²⁾

Alness, High Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Anniesland, 31 Herschell Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Ardrossan, Princes Street —⁽¹²⁾

Auldhouse, Cogan Road —⁽¹²⁾

Ayr, Carrick Street —⁽¹²⁾

Banff, Bridge Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Bathgate, South Bridge Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Bellshill Jobcentre Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Benbecula, Druim na Hairde —⁽¹²⁾

Blairgowrie, Lesley Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Blantyre, Boswell Drive —⁽¹²⁾

Blantyre, Industrial Estate —⁽¹²⁾

Boness, East Pier Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Boness, North Street —⁽¹²⁾

Bridgeton, Main Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Cambuslang, Somervell Street —⁽¹²⁾

Carluke, Hamilton Street —⁽¹²⁾

Castle Douglas, Carlingwark Street —⁽¹²⁾

Castlemilk, Arcade —⁽¹²⁾

Clydebank Jobcentre Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Coatbridge, Interlink Estate —⁽¹²⁾

Coatbridge, South Circular Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Cowdenbeath, Factory Road —⁽¹²⁾

Craigton, Paisley Road West Closed⁽¹³⁾

Cranstonhill, Minerva Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Cumbernauld, Tryst Road —⁽¹²⁾

Cumnock, Glaisnock Street —⁽¹²⁾

Cumnock, Townhead Street —⁽¹²⁾

Dalkeith, Buccleuch Street Merged⁽¹⁵⁾

Denny, Church Walk —⁽¹²⁾

Drumchapel, Kinfauns Drive —⁽¹²⁾

Dumbarton, Meadowbank Street —⁽¹²⁾

Dumfries, 124 Irish Street —⁽¹²⁾

Dunfermline, High Street —⁽¹²⁾

East Kilbride, Murray House —⁽¹²⁾

Edinburgh, 38 Castle Terrace —⁽¹²⁾

Edinburgh, Haymarket —⁽¹²⁾

Edinburgh, Torphichen Street —⁽¹²⁾

Elgin, South Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Falkirk, Grahame House —⁽¹²⁾

Falkirk, High Street —⁽¹²⁾

Forfar, Station Road Closed⁽¹³⁾

Fort William, Tweedale High Street —⁽¹²⁾

Galashiels Jobcentre, Market Street Merged⁽¹⁵⁾

Girvan, Montgomery Street —⁽¹²⁾

Glasgow Central, Jamaica Street —⁽¹²⁾

Glasgow City, Bath Street —⁽¹²⁾

Glasgow City, Pitt Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Glasgow, Provan —⁽¹²⁾

Glenrothes, North Street —⁽¹²⁾

Haddington Jobcentre —⁽¹²⁾

Hamilton, 19 Douglas Street —⁽¹²⁾

Hawick, Duke Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Helensburgh, West Clyde Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Inverkeithing, Hope Street —⁽¹²⁾

Inverness, Met House —⁽¹²⁾

Irvine, Bank Street —⁽¹²⁾

Johnstone SSO Closed⁽¹³⁾

Kelso, The Square Closed⁽¹³⁾

Kilmarnock Jobcentre Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Kilmarnock Action Team, Nelson Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Kilsyth Jobcentre, Station Road —⁽¹²⁾

Kilsyth SSO, Station Road Closed⁽¹³⁾

Kilwinning, Main Street —⁽¹²⁾

Kirkcaldy, Victoria Road —⁽¹²⁾

Kirkintilloch, Townhead —⁽¹²⁾

Lanark Jobcentre Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Largs, Lade Street —⁽¹²⁾

Largs, Seamore Street —⁽¹²⁾

Larkhall, Claude Street —⁽¹²⁾

Larkhall, Union Street —⁽¹²⁾

Laurieston, Devon Place —⁽¹²⁾

Leith, Leith Walk —⁽¹²⁾

Leven, Walton House —⁽¹²⁾

Linwood, Burnbrae Avenue Closed⁽¹³⁾

Livingston, Ochil House Closed⁽¹³⁾

Loanhead, Polton Road Closed⁽¹³⁾

Lockerbie, High Street —⁽¹²⁾

Macduff, Duff Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Maryhill, 1460 Maryhill Road —⁽¹²⁾

Montrose CSP, Murray Street —⁽¹²⁾

Motherwell, Mason Street —⁽¹²⁾

Nairn, High Street —⁽¹²⁾

Newton Stewart, Queen Street —⁽¹²⁾

Oban, Albany Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Paisley, 35 Moss Street Closed⁽¹³⁾

Partick Jobcentre Merged⁽¹⁵⁾

Peebles, Northgate Closed⁽¹³⁾

Perth, Mill Street —⁽¹²⁾

Pollok, Nitshill Road —⁽¹²⁾

Portobello, High Street —⁽¹²⁾

Portobello, Windsor Place —⁽¹²⁾

Portree Jobcentre Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Rutherglen, Mitchell Arcade —⁽¹²⁾

Sanquhar, Queensbury Square —⁽¹²⁾

Shettleston, 1682 Shettleston Road Closed⁽¹³⁾

Shotts Jobcentre, Dyfrig Street —⁽¹²⁾

Shotts SSO, Dyfrig Street —⁽¹²⁾

Springburn Merged⁽¹⁵⁾

Stirling, Wallace House —⁽¹²⁾

Stranraer, Ashwood Drive —⁽¹²⁾

Thurso, Rotterdam Street —⁽¹²⁾

Thurso, Traill House —⁽¹²⁾

Troon, Temple Hill —⁽¹²⁾

Uddingston, Belshill Road —⁽¹²⁾

Wester Hailes Jobcentre Merger⁽¹⁴⁾

Wick, Government Buildings (partial) —⁽¹²⁾

Wishaw, Kirk Road —⁽¹²⁾

Wishaw, Main Street —⁽¹²⁾

⁽¹²⁾ Planned for closure.
⁽¹³⁾ Office has closed to public. Some sites may be retained for non-customer-facing activity.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Office is co-located with another; one will 'close' as the site is redeveloped to support delivery of the new service.
⁽¹⁵⁾ Has merged with co-located office.

24 Feb 2005 : Column 816W

	Region Scotland
Site	Status
Airdrie, Graham Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Alexandria, Mitchell Way	—⁽¹²⁾
Alloa, Bank Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Alness, High Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Anniesland, 31 Herschell Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Ardrossan, Princes Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Auldhouse, Cogan Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Ayr, Carrick Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Banff, Bridge Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Bathgate, South Bridge Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Bellshill Jobcentre	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Benbecula, Druim na Hairde	—⁽¹²⁾
Blairgowrie, Lesley Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Blantyre, Boswell Drive	—⁽¹²⁾
Blantyre, Industrial Estate	—⁽¹²⁾
Boness, East Pier Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Boness, North Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Bridgeton, Main Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Cambuslang, Somervell Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Carluke, Hamilton Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Castle Douglas, Carlingwark Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Castlemilk, Arcade	—⁽¹²⁾
Clydebank Jobcentre	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Coatbridge, Interlink Estate	—⁽¹²⁾
Coatbridge, South Circular	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Cowdenbeath, Factory Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Craigton, Paisley Road West	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Cranstonhill, Minerva Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Cumbernauld, Tryst Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Cumnock, Glaisnock Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Cumnock, Townhead Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Dalkeith, Buccleuch Street	Merged⁽¹⁵⁾
Denny, Church Walk	—⁽¹²⁾
Drumchapel, Kinfauns Drive	—⁽¹²⁾
Dumbarton, Meadowbank Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Dumfries, 124 Irish Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Dunfermline, High Street	—⁽¹²⁾
East Kilbride, Murray House	—⁽¹²⁾
Edinburgh, 38 Castle Terrace	—⁽¹²⁾
Edinburgh, Haymarket	—⁽¹²⁾
Edinburgh, Torphichen Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Elgin, South Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Falkirk, Grahame House	—⁽¹²⁾
Falkirk, High Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Forfar, Station Road	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Fort William, Tweedale High Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Galashiels Jobcentre, Market Street	Merged⁽¹⁵⁾
Girvan, Montgomery Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Glasgow Central, Jamaica Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Glasgow City, Bath Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Glasgow City, Pitt Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Glasgow, Provan	—⁽¹²⁾
Glenrothes, North Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Haddington Jobcentre	—⁽¹²⁾
Hamilton, 19 Douglas Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Hawick, Duke Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Helensburgh, West Clyde Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Inverkeithing, Hope Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Inverness, Met House	—⁽¹²⁾
Irvine, Bank Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Johnstone SSO	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Kelso, The Square	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Kilmarnock Jobcentre	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Kilmarnock Action Team, Nelson Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Kilsyth Jobcentre, Station Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Kilsyth SSO, Station Road	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Kilwinning, Main Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Kirkcaldy, Victoria Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Kirkintilloch, Townhead	—⁽¹²⁾
Lanark Jobcentre	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Largs, Lade Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Largs, Seamore Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Larkhall, Claude Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Larkhall, Union Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Laurieston, Devon Place	—⁽¹²⁾
Leith, Leith Walk	—⁽¹²⁾
Leven, Walton House	—⁽¹²⁾
Linwood, Burnbrae Avenue	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Livingston, Ochil House	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Loanhead, Polton Road	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Lockerbie, High Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Macduff, Duff Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Maryhill, 1460 Maryhill Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Montrose CSP, Murray Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Motherwell, Mason Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Nairn, High Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Newton Stewart, Queen Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Oban, Albany Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Paisley, 35 Moss Street	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Partick Jobcentre	Merged⁽¹⁵⁾
Peebles, Northgate	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Perth, Mill Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Pollok, Nitshill Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Portobello, High Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Portobello, Windsor Place	—⁽¹²⁾
Portree Jobcentre	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Rutherglen, Mitchell Arcade	—⁽¹²⁾
Sanquhar, Queensbury Square	—⁽¹²⁾
Shettleston, 1682 Shettleston Road	Closed⁽¹³⁾
Shotts Jobcentre, Dyfrig Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Shotts SSO, Dyfrig Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Springburn	Merged⁽¹⁵⁾
Stirling, Wallace House	—⁽¹²⁾
Stranraer, Ashwood Drive	—⁽¹²⁾
Thurso, Rotterdam Street	—⁽¹²⁾
Thurso, Traill House	—⁽¹²⁾
Troon, Temple Hill	—⁽¹²⁾
Uddingston, Belshill Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Wester Hailes Jobcentre	Merger⁽¹⁴⁾
Wick, Government Buildings (partial)	—⁽¹²⁾
Wishaw, Kirk Road	—⁽¹²⁾
Wishaw, Main Street	—⁽¹²⁾

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