Proposed Closure Of Benefits Agency Office In Rusholme, Manchester

EDM number 279 in 1996-97, proposed by Gerald Kaufman on 02/12/1996.

That this House views with great concern the proposals by the Benefits Agency to close its local office in Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, Manchester; notes that this office is located in an area of deep poverty and deprivation; notes further that removal of services from this office to Chorlton would cause serious difficulties to large numbers of people who have recourse to the Rusholme office, involving as it does problems for elderly people and parents of small children, not to mention transport costs for those not receiving a call to theChorlton office; and calls on the Secretary of State for So cial Security to point out to the Benefits Agency the need to treat decently and considerately those who have to avail themselves of the Agency, and to instruct the Agency to withdraw all plans to close the Rusholme office.

This motion has been signed by a total of 32 MPs.