Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran Katy Clark has condemned plans to contract out core functions carried out by Jobcentre plus to private sector organisations. The plans are contained in the Welfare Reform Bill currently going through Parliament.
Speaking on the subject the local MP said “I am very concerned at plans to contract out functions currently carried out by Jobcentre Plus. The National Audit Office have looked into this issue and both found little or no evidence to support contracting out welfare to the private or voluntary sector”
“Contracting out of services, such as these, inevitably lead to cuts in jobs and cuts in the quality of the service provided. This would be especially worrying in an area such as Jobcentre Plus which is an essential service for people up and down the country particularly for many vulnerable groups in society”
The local MP has signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for the change to be abandoned.