Up
to 20,000 public sector posts in benefit offices and JobCentres are to be cut
over the next four years.
Andrew
Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced the losses
yesterday.
Jobs
will be lost following a merger between the Benefits Agency and the Employment
Service. A new network of one-stop shops for benefit claimants will be created.
Smith
said that most would go through natural wastage and redeployment.