Kirk says closure proposal is a disgrace
THE plan to shut jobcentres is a disgraceful attack on the poorest, the Church of Scotland has said.
The Kirk is giving evidence to MPs this week, outlining its opposition and is demanding the plans are halted.
Rev Dr Martin Johnstone, Secretary of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, is giving evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster tomorrow on the closures.
He said: “When you look at where the closures are planned and then look at Glasgow’s poorest communities, they match.
“This decision, unless it can be reversed, will have the sharpest impact on people living in neighbourhoods where there is the highest levels of poor health, the greatest levels of disability, often the poorest access to public transport and the lowest rates of car ownership.
“Intentional or otherwise this is an attack on some of the poorest people living in some of the poorest neighbourhoods. It is a disgrace.”
The Church has also heard directly from people who will be impacted by the closure plans if allowed to go ahead. Rev Dr Johnstone, said: “They are deeply worried about the extra costs of buses, the fear of being late and getting sanctioned and the worry of trying to fit in an appointment between dropping off and picking up children from school and nursery.
“We urge UK Ministers to think again and take these proposals off the table.”
The Catholic Church has also spoken out against he proposals with Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia stating they should be stopped.