Jobcentre failures hurt JSA claimants and Kingdom taxpayers says Rennie

4.00.00pm GMT Tue 19th Jan 2010

MP Willie Rennie has expressed his concern after figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats revealed that the amount of money paid out in compensation by Jobcentre Plus in Scotland has more than tripled over the last year.

The new statistics show that the number of payments made increased by 39% between 07/08 and 08/09 and the amount paid out rose by 196% over the same period, from £59,100 to £174,900.

The compensation payments are made when people claiming benefits have lost out due to official errors. Over 2,500 people in Mr Rennie's constituency of Dunfermline and West Fife claimed Job Seekers Allowance in November 2009.

Commenting, Mr Rennie said:

'With pressure on jobs increasing around the country as a result of the economic downturn, ensuring that people who are out of work are able to access the support they need is more important than ever.

'What these new figures reveal is a system that is failing both the taxpayer and those people in the Kingdom who depend on benefits payments to make ends meet.

'Simplifying the benefits system will be essential if we are to reduce the amount of money wasted on these compensation payments and allow people to get the help they need at the time they need it most.'