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Social security offices to be sold off in merger with high-street Jobcentres

Colin Brown Chief Political Correspondent
Monday 10 February 1997 19:02 EST
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Some social security offices will be sold off in a merger with high-street Jobcentres, saving the taxpayer up to pounds 100m, under plans by Harriet Harman, Labour's social security spokeswoman, to introduce "one-stop shops" for the unemployed.

Ms Harman claims the plans could transform help for the unemployed to get back into work, and estimates that there could be a saving of pounds 50m a year on administration costs, with a one-off saving of pounds 50m on the sale of unwanted social security offices or Jobcentres.

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