Minister in the Moorlands

Karen Bradley MP welcomed Employment Minister Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP to Staffordshire Moorlands on Friday 20th January and accompanied him on a visit to Jobcentre Plus in neighbouring Hanley. The Jobcentre Plus provides a service to some 420 customers in the Moorlands, both from the centre itself and from facilities opened around 12 months ago at the Council offices in Leek.

Currently around 370 people aged over 25 using the centre and some 50 young people, aged 18-24 year. Outreach workers provide the Jocentre's services to those with mobility or access difficulties through home visits.

Accompanying the Minister Karen said:

"It was a great pleasure to welcome Chris to the Moorlands and to visit the Jobcentre Plus in Hanley, which deals with many jobseekers from my constituency. It is vitally important that ministers see the issues we face locally so that government policy can be focused in a way that helps the Moorlands as well as the rest of the UK."

Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP said:

"We are carrying out a great deal of work to provide Jobcentre Plus staff with more flexibility so they are able to use their discretion to tailor support to the needs of communities like Moorlands." 

Karen is pictured with the minister (left) and Jobcentre Plus Customer Service Operations Manager Brendon Downie.