AN MP has applauded the Jobcentre’s steps to cater for the city’s rapidly expanding population, as well as its disabled residents.

Jobcentre Plus has announced that it is moving to a new home in Central Milton Keynes, while disability assessments will now be available locally.

Previously, Mark Lancaster, member for Milton Keynes North, campaigned alongside charity Carers MK against Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance claimants having to travel to Aylesbury and Luton for their assessments.

Atos Healthcare, which undertakes the examinations, is opening a new office in Milton Keynes at the end of August.

Meanwhile, Jobcentre Plus will be opening a new premises in Southgate House, Midsummer Boulevard, which is expected to happen by the end of November.

It will no longer be operating from St Georges House in Silbury Boulevard or Libra House in Linford Wood.

The move follows a population growth which left the organisation unable to provide the service it had hoped.

In a letter to Mr Lancaster the district manager said: ‘The increase in customer volumes over the last 18 months has put further pressure on our capacity and has meant that we have, on occasions, not been able to provide the level of service we would like.’

Mr Lancaster is pleased that residents will get the level of service they deserve.

However, he would like to see a proactive, not reactive, approach to the city’s growth by providing infrastructure such as this before expansion, having campaigned for I before E.

He said: “I have been contacted by residents, many of them older or disabled, who were unable to travel to Aylesbury or Luton for their medical assessment. After pushing for change, common sense has finally prevailed and this will be done locally.


“Meanwhile, it is good to see Jobcentre Plus moving into a building fit for its purpose, but I think we should always try to ensure services like this are in place before the population increases.”