Adam Price

Plaid Cymru | Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

Plaid Slam Government Decision to Close Carmarthen Benefits Office

Plaid Cymru : The Party of Wales politicians in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr have slammed the announcement made today by the Department of Work and Pensions that the Benefits Agency in John Street, Carmarthen will be closed. :The Government's decision to shut the Office comes following New Labour's commitment in this years Comprehensive Spending Review announcement to shed a 100,000 civil service jobs up to 2008. The announcement was condemned as savage and unacceptable by Plaid Cymru.

Adam Price, Plaid Cymru : The Party of Wales, Member of Parliament for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr said:

This announcement is the end result as far as New Labour's adaptation of Tory policies is concerned. The Department of Work and Pensions will loose 30,000 civil service jobs between now and 2008, and I am devastated that the Government have decided to include Carmarthen Benefits Agency in their closure plans. This is a savage and unacceptable policy, which will directly target the most vulnerable in our society. The closure of the Carmarthen office will have grave consequences for service users in Carmarthenshire.

Successive Conservatives and New Labour Government have centralised the internal structures of the Benefits Agency, often leading to confusion on the party of users. As a result of this announcement large parts of Wales will become a benefits advice desert.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Plaid Cymru : The Party of Wales, National Assembly Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr said:

What we are witnessing from New Labour is the sort of vicious policy that even Thatcher couldn't stomach. New Labour offer us an agenda based on centralisation and rationalisation meaning that communities in West Wales all too often lose out o in terms of services as well as the resulting economic damage. This announcement comes as a bitter blow, especially since New Labour in the Assembly are insisting upon moving nearly a 100 Business Service Centre jobs within the NHS away from the Town.

Plaid Cymru politicians at all elected levels will continue to campaign against this disgraceful policy.