SERVICES provided by Jobcentres should not be removed for the communities where they are needed most MSPs have said.

SNP, Conservative, Labour and Green MSPs took part in the Member’s Debate, led by Maryhill and Springburn MSP Bob Doris, which had to be extended by half an hour to allow time for everyone who wanted to speak.

Every Glasgow MSP was in the chamber except the two who are government ministers, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. Both however have spoken publicly against the proposals.

Mr Doris said there has been no detail in the consultation and DWP are unable to provide the basic information expected in a consultation.

He said there was no equalities impact assessment, no details of how many people use the services and the travel details were obtained using google maps.

He said: “If a council consulted on closing schools in such a manner, the Scottish Government could call it in.”

He added: “Every closure proposal should be stopped right now.”

The Conservatives while accepting the DWP rationale for the closures said they had concerns about the process and vulnerable people being adversely affected.

Annie Wells, Conservative MSP for Glasgow said of the proposals: “I will not condone neither will I condemn them”.

She said: “We need to monitor the use of Jobcentres. Claimant count has dropped from 2010.”

She outlined the DWP position but also said she was worried about the distance some people would have to travel. She added: “We need to look after the most vulnerable with journey times.”

Ms Wells also said however that some jobs on offer would involve longer travel distances than those to reach the Jobcentre.

Johann Lamont. Glasgow Labour MSP said she was shocked when she heard the announcement.

She said: “If we believe we need to support people into work, why make it so difficult to access support.”

The Tories said claimant count for Jobseekers alliance had been cut almost in half in some parts of Glasgow.

The said the fact that there were empty floors in Jobcentres need to be recognised but so too did the concerns of people and politicians.

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland Conservative MSP, said: “Claimant council has dropped in Glasgow. It has dropped by 47% in Glasgow East. That still means 13,000 people need these services. The concerns raised must be recognised.”

He said people with long term health and disability issues have to be protected.

He added: “We must not lose sight of the travesty of being made unemployed. It is down to us to assure them they are not being abandoned.”

The Greens said the local nature of services was important and focusing on bigger premises remote from communities was the wrong approach.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP, said that services need to be retained in communities. He said: “If the level of demand reduces why do we need to reduce the local nature of services.”

Mr Harvie added: “The social security system is supposed to be about supporting people to overcome barriers.

Instead he said this plan would put up more barriers.

He added: “It’s inevitable it will lead to unacceptable journey times and costs. He said of Annie Wells comment about workers travelling further: “A job pays a wage going to the Jobcentre doesn’t.”