AN MP has criticised JobCentre bosses for delays in arranging interviews to help people get off benefits.

Commons questions tabled by Labour backbencher Vera Baird have exposed how JobCentres in Redcar and Eston, in the Tees Valley, are failing to hit targets.

Ms Baird said the delays also forced vulnerable people to wait longer for crucial benefits, and said the situation would worsen once planned staff cuts were introduced.

She said: "This is money that people are entitled to. If they are forced to wait for benefits, they will be forced into the hands of loan sharks.

"Lots of people have complained to me about these delays and about, after going to the JobCentre, having to telephone someone else in a call centre in Timbuktu for their interview.

"That is much less friendly than talking to someone face-to-face, and I fear the service could get worse with the job losses that are planned at the Department for Work and Pensions."

According to an answer to a parliamentary question tabled by Ms Baird, jobseekers should be interviewed about their circumstances within five days of making a claim.

But last month, ten per cent of claimants at Eston JobCentre and 12 per cent at Redcar had to wait longer.

Both performances were significantly worse than over last year as a whole.

The news came as unions warned staff were increasingly demoralised by the threat of job losses and pension cuts.

A total of 30,000 Department for Work and Pensions jobs are due to go by 2008.

No one from the JobCentres was available to comment yesterday.