An MSP met Job Centre staff in East Kilbride and heard how the benefits system is working in the town.
Central Scotland Conservative Graham Simpson visited the town centre office to find out how Universal Credit is working.
Graham Simpson said: “The first thing to say is that the staff in the Job Centre are 100 per cent committed to helping everyone who comes through their doors.
“We keep hearing that people claiming UC are going short but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Most new claimants take advantage of the advanced payments system, which I was told is very quick to set up. Some claimants can have money in their accounts before they leave the office.
“The offer of having twice-monthly payments is not so popular with only around one in ten taking it up. In East Kilbride we average about 95% of customers receiving their full first payment within their first Assessment Period.
“I was also pleased to hear that the Job Centre works well with the East Kilbride Hub next door, which I opened when I was a councillor.”
