HAMPSHIRE JOBCENTRES GEAR UP FOR RISE IN JOBLESS - HUHNE (Eastleigh Liberal Democrats)

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HAMPSHIRE JOBCENTRES GEAR UP FOR RISE IN JOBLESS - HUHNE

April 3, 2009 10:28 AM

Chris Huhhe with Neil Coupland and Martin Pryor Hampshire's Jobcentres are gearing up for a further sharp rise in unemployment by taking on more staff and expanding space, Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne heard.

In a visit to Eastleigh's Jobcentre Plus, Mr Huhne was briefed on the future provision for local unemployed people by Hampshire district manager Martin Pryor, pictured here with advisory services manager Neil Coupland.

"Given that unemployment has doubled in a year, I was concerned to hear at first hand how the Jobcentre is handling the extra workload, which is very substantial" said Chris Huhne.

"It is crucial that local families are able to get quick access to benefits if the breadwinners become unemployed, and I was relieved to hear about the planning that is underway".

Mr Huhne said that it was important to provide as much support to help people get back into the labour market as possible. He understood that staffing at the twenty Hampshire and Isle of Wight Jobcentres would rise by more than half to nearly 1000 people.

"Although the local economy has been hit by redundancies at Ford, Home Delivery Network and NRS Retail among others, there are also new jobs such as those at Vue cinema and AMF Bowling" said Mr Huhne. In the wider South Hampshire economy, Lloyds register, IKEA and Palmer Johnson are all creating new jobs.

"There is no escape from the fact that many local businesses and their employees face the toughest times for a generation, and we have to prepare for that if we are to minimise the hardship many face" said Mr Huhne.