Job cuts 'could lead to fraud increase'

Tuesday, 12 July 2005 12:00 AM

Union leaders have warned that benefit fraud could increase if plans go ahead to cut large numbers of work and pension staff.

Activists from the Public and Commercial Services Unions (PCS) lobbied MPs this afternoon over plans to cut 30,000 jobs from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and relocate a further 10,000 out of London and the south-east.

Members highlighted plans to cut fraud investigation staff from 4,500 to 2,800.

Union leaders claimed people were already feeling the effects of cuts. PCS head Mark Serwotka said: "We are seeing people having to wait longer to see someone about getting back in to work, access to advice restricted and people left hanging on the telephone for over an hour."

The government's argument that jobs could be cut on the basis of new computer systems was also questioned as union members pointed to continued IT problems in the Child Support Agency.

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