Social security offices to be sold off in merger with high-street Jobcentres

Some social security offices will be sold off in a merger with high-street Jobcentres, saving the taxpayer up to pounds 100m, under plans by Harriet Harman, Labour's social security spokeswoman, to introduce "one-stop shops" for the unemployed.

Ms Harman claims the plans could transform help for the unemployed to get back into work, and estimates that there could be a saving of pounds 50m a year on administration costs, with a one-off saving of pounds 50m on the sale of unwanted social security offices or Jobcentres.