MP ramps up the pressure to retain ‘vital service’ in Barrow
The MP for Barrow and Furness, Simon Fell, continues to lead the charge to save Barrow’s Industrial Injury and Disablement team from losing their jobs, and with it, the MP says, a vital service for Furness, from closure.
Mr Fell has led the campaign since early this year, and is working across Parliament and Furness to keep the service open.
The MP has seized the opportunity of the recent change in Government to write to the newly appointed Secretary of State for the DWP, Chole Smith MP, calling on her to intervene to keep the service open in Barrow.
The jobs, and subsequent service, are under threat of closure as part of DWP’s plans to streamline their estate.
Simon outlines to Ms Smith that there are alternative options available in Barrow to house the staff who work in this specialist benefit service, which would help the DWP to both streamline their estate, while retaining an essential, high skilled, and specialist team in Furness.
The MP has since secured a meeting with the Secretary of State where, he says, he intends to ‘strongly make the case’ to retain the service in Barrow.
Commenting, Simon said:
“I have written to the new Secretary of State the moment she was appointed to implore her to meet with me, to hear our case, and to understand the value of this fantastic team remaining in Barrow.
“To aid our campaign, I very much welcome the new Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill, which will see thousands more people able to access vital benefits at the end of their lives. Whilst the three key benefits mentioned in the Bill are not those administered at Phoenix House, those working at Phoenix House do administer other key end of life benefits –a service which is essential. The closure of Phoenix House therefore seems completely at odds with the DWP’s stated ambition to ensure that those who need it most are given a fast-tracked service to the support they need.
“It is in this spirit, that I hope that the DWP, with the Secretary of State’s input, will reconsider and listen to our plans for alternative accommodation for the service.”
