Today I visited Houghton JobCentre Plus to meet staff, discuss their experiences over the past year, and get an update on the work they are doing to support local residents.

Covid-19 has plunged so many families into unemployment, insecurity and financial distress, making the work of JobCentre staff even more crucial. Youth unemployment remains a real challenge.

Staff have had to adapt to radically altered circumstances, and I wanted to thank them for their hard work throughout the pandemic.