THE number of people using Glasgow’s jobcentres is not known, according to the DWP.

Despite plans to close half of the services in Glasgow the UK’s minister of work and pensions minister, Damian Hinds, admitted the government had no idea how many people in Glasgow actually use the service.

The admittance came from Hinds who responded to a written question in the House of Commons last month asking how many people use the services of Jobcentres in major cities across the UK.

He said: “The Department of Work and Pensions does not measure the number of people visiting its network jobcentres.”

Margaret Ferrier, SNP MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, who lodged the question, said: “I don’t think the minister or his department understand what Jobcentres do on a day-to-day basis.

“It is not just for claimants, it is also people who want to go and search for a job. Not everyone is computer literate and they are going in there to ask for help from the staff as well.”

A spokesman for the DWP said: “As unemployment has dropped across the city [Glasgow] – the claimant count is down 44 per cent since 2010 – so has the use of some of our smaller jobcentres.”

The Evening Times is currently campaigning against the proposed closure of 7 of Glasgow’s 14 centres throughout the city.

A consultation on the issue lasts until January 31.