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The Scottish government will give a ministerial statement on the draft Climate Change Plan.

It will then lead a debate on the future funding of rural development.

We will be back at 2:30pm with a ministerial statement of the Draft Climate Change Plan.

Mr Hepburn says the government will be willing to engage in dialogue with the UK government DWP on these matters.

The employability minister says there is a greater role for the Scottish government to play in Jobcentre Plus as set out in the Smith Commission.  

He says the Scottish government should have been involved in discussions on DWP closures. 

Mr Hepburn says he is "very concerned" that closures will lead to more sanctions.

He says this is only the first round of closures and the Scottish government do not know how many more are to come. 

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Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn thanks the Conservative MSPs who stayed behind for this debate.

Mr Hepburn says it is incumbent that the mass ranks of Conservatives that they brought their ears with them and listened to the points made in the debate.

The minister says there has been much concern about the impact on communities and people.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks if the Scottish government could talk to the DWP about any other buildings that could be used.

Mr Hepburn says the decision to close the job centres seems to be driven by leases come to an end, which is a peculiar way to go about it.

Community need would be a better way, he says.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins commends Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn for the open and transparent way he has kept Glasgow informed.

Mr Tomkins says this is in contrast to the DWP's lack of transparency.

The Tory MSP says all Westminster parties supported the need for reform in the DWP including the SNP. 

Mr Tomkins says the planned closures are intended to enhance services not cut them.

He says there are no planned job losses and the number of work coaches are going up.

Mr Tomkins says he has concerns, which he has and will continue to, highlight to his party at Westminster,

SNP MSP Claire Haughey says the outrageous decision to close half the job centres in Glasgow is just another example of the disregard of the UK government for the vulnerable.

The SNP MSP says Glasgow has a 2.3% higher rate of unemployment than the UK average.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says Glasgow faces seven closures which is 50% of its job centre offices across the city.

Ms McNeil says Glasgow is being "unfairly singled out." 

The Labour MSP says the city is not ready for the transition from job centres to new systems.

Mr Tomkins intervenes to say the number of job centre claimants has reduced by 44% and, given that is the case, he asks if it is not reasonable to consider reducing the number of job centres.

Ms McNeil says, if that is the Tories position on this deabte, then it does not understand the city because it is not ready. 

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says he won't condemn or condone the proposals.

Mr Kerr says the DWP is committed to reducing its estate.

The Tory MSP says the reduction in the number of claimants has resulted in the DWP only using 25% of the space it pays for.

He says the affect of these job centre closures, on the people that use them, must be recognised as the consultation continues. 

Mr Kerr calls on those who are worries to submit their concerns to the consultation. 

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Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says this is an issue that has united people across the board.

Mr Harvie says people are responding with astonishment to the proposals and he joins a number of different MSPs in praising the campaign of the Evening Times.

The Scottish Green MSP  says it is absolutely inevitable the closures will lead to unacceptable journey times and costs.

SNP MSP Sandra White says no indication of the closures was given to the Social Security Committee during a recent visit to Musselburgh job centre. 

The convener of the Social Security Committee says this has nothing to do with getting people into work. 

Ms White says "the people did not matter, all that matters is money," she says. 

Labour MSP Johann Lamont says she was shocked when she heard the announcement of the job centre closures.

Ms Lamont says cross-party consensus is important in the campaign against the closures.

She says Tory MSP Adam Tomkins talked about the importance of evidence and she says the fact is this is not an evidence based decision. 

SNP MSP James Dornan says two job centres are being closed in his constituency. 

Mr Dornan says job centres are not only a place to find employment, but also a place to learn and discuss new skills.

The SNP MSP says the difference between Castlemilk job centre and Newlands job centre, which will stay open, is 15 minutes by car.

He says most of those using the Castlemilk job centre do not drive and this means they run the risk of sanctions.

"This measure is quite shameless," he says. 

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Tory MSP Annie Wells says she will not condone the DWP proposals but neither will she condemn them.

Ms Wells says she is concerned about the communication around the closures.

SNP MSP Bob Doris says every proposal to close a job centre in Glasgow should be scrapped and the DWP should think again.

Mr Doris says it is right to monitor the use of job centre. 

Mr Doris says "we should be improving services to vulnerable groups not diminishing them."

The SNP MSP says the risk of sanctions, additional travel expense and the loss of work coaches are worrying his constituents. 

Mr Doris says he has met with senior managers at Jobcentre Plus and asked how many people use the job centre in Maryhill.

"They didn't know," he says.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar intervenes to say that every single Glasgow MSP is against the closures and isn't it time the UK government listen.

Mr Doris says he agrees. 

SNP MSP Bob Doris says the motion has, at its core, dignity and respect.

Mr Doris says the job centre closures does nothing to help people back into employment.

The SNP MSP pays tribute to One Parent Families Scotland, external for their support for areas affected by the closures. 

The Scottish government has said it was "completely unacceptable" that it was not consulted on plans to close half of Glasgow's job centres.

On Wednesday, the Department of Work and Pensions announced the closures as part of a review of its estate.

Scottish government Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn has written to the department to ask for clarity.

The DWP said there would be public consultation on closures resulting in travel of more than three miles.

Denise Horsfall, DWP work services director for Scotland, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that three of the proposed closures would result in travel increasing to up to four miles.

She said these job centres - in Maryhill, Castlemilk and Bridgton - could remain open depending on the outcome of the consultation.

• Castlemilk and Langside Jobcentres will move to Newlands Jobcentre
• Parkhead, Easterhouse and Bridgeton Jobcentres will move to Shettleston Jobcentre
• Anniesland Jobcentre will move to Partick Jobcentre
• Maryhill Jobcentre will move to Springburn Jobcentre
• Cambuslang Jobcentre will move to Rutherglen Jobcentre

Jobcentre Plus offices in Govan, Drumchapel and Laurieston will be unaffected.

Benefit claimants in Glasgow may have to travel further for employment services under UK government plans to close half the city's 16 job centres.

The Scottish National Party described the proposal as "morally outrageous".

It said those from the poorest areas would face higher travel and phone costs, making it harder to seek work.

The Department for Work and Pensions said the closures would save public money and reflected an increase in use of online and telephone services.

Under the plans, there would be no job losses among Jobcentre Plus staff, while claimants would not have to travel further than four miles or 40 minutes.

SNP MSP Bob Doris will now lead this afternoon's member's debate on the closure of Glasgow Jobcentres.

Image source, Scottish Parliament