Decision Reversed On Moving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Staff To Kilmarnock

Ayr Carrick and Cumnock MP Sandra Osborne has received confirmation from the Department for Work and Pensions Minister Margaret Hodge that plans to move the IIDB section in Ayr to Kilmarnock have been changed and they will remain at the John Street site.

She said:

' I have been working to get this decision changed since the announcement was made out of the blue a few months ago. The plan was to locate the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit staff at the new processing centre in Kilmarnock, but they do a completely different job and in any case there was not enough room for them in the Kilmarnock building. I obviously would not welcome transfer of jobs from the area and I am very concerned about the uncertainty  this  causes to staff, some of whom have childcare arrangements and already travel from parts of South Ayrshire.  The original plan was to site the staff dealing with this benefit for the whole of Scotland in Ayr and I would expect that to happen in the future. There are currently 45 staff in Ayr. The building in John Street is being refurbished to accommodate the conversion to the full Jobcentre Plus service which will provide benefits and job seeking support under one roof. The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit section will be located elsewhere in the building.