Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the telephone network at Shettleston Jobcentre was inaccessible on 2 February 2018 and whether the cause of the inaccessibility has been fully resolved.
The telephone network in Shettleston Jobcentre was disrupted on 2 February due to a suspected power surge causing a switch to fail. The telephone network was restored within one hour and subsequent work by BT has replaced the switch.
Face to face services within the Jobcentre continued while the telephones were down. Additionally, a contingency arrangement was put in place to redirect calls to Parkhead Jobcentre and Easterhouse Jobcentre as per Business Continuity Plans. All payments were processed and issued on time.