A UNION has criticised the government for its move to close offices in Southampton which could lead to job losses.

The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union has slammed the Government after it announced it would close 10 Insolvency Service offices, including one in Southampton.

Arguing that the decision could lead to job losses, the union branded the move “yet another blow to hard-working civil servants, who are treated with utter contempt by the Government”.

The offices provide information on bankruptcy, redundancy, paying off debts, company insolvency and misconduct of trading companies and would be closed over the next five years.

But now, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka has said the work of civic servants is “constantly undervalued by ministers”.

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“These office closures follow hard on the heels of 42 Department for Work and Pensions office closures across the UK.

“We shall not sit back and witness our civil service being systematically destroyed in front of our eyes.

“We shall fight these closures, as we’re fighting the DWP office closures, because cuts have consequences, not only for our members, but for those who use these important services.”

Officers being affected are also based in Cambridge, Watford, Birkenhead, Blackpool, Brighton, Chatham, Reading, Bristol and Plymouth.

An Insolvency Service spokesperson said: “Transitioning to regional centres will see us become a more modern and streamlined organisation in the right locations for our customers, enabling us to focus on improving our services while delivering best value for money for taxpayers.

“We do not want to lose our excellent people, which is why there will be a comprehensive package of support measures to help our staff in the transition to new working arrangements over the next three to five years.”

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