THE Department of Work and Pensions really mean business when it comes to the plight of jobseekers.

Now instead of attending every two weeks, the unemployed have to go every week to a Jobcentre Plus to show they actively seeking work before claiming benefits.

And they have to “sign on” for a Government website, register their own e-mail as well as sharpening their CV.

It is a positive move – but realistic support from Jobcentre Plus staff should be in equal measure to the effort made by serious jobseekers.

Both sides of the job centre table are in this together.

Having been in this position myself, I would ask the Government to look at the state of the Jobcentre Plus operation.

Please don’t privatise them – a cosmetic name change doesn’t help anyone.

They have changed from the desperate days depicted in Alan Bleasdale’s Boys From The Blackstuff when there were actual grilles at counters in what were called dole offices.

Now there are white-shirted security men with walkie-talkies and nicely-carpeted, open plan offices. I have been fortunate to have had some good advisers – locally and nationally – but I have also been sent on inappropriate courses where I actually knew more than the tutors.

And some staff could do with going on presentation courses themselves.

Esther McVey calls for jobless people to “make themselves attractive to employers.”.

Jobcentre Plus staff must play their part with a passion...I was pretty unimpressed to see one of them wearing jeans recently.

School leavers and those made redundant through economic downturns need constructive support every step of the way in the long and winding job market.

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BUS REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Phrases I dread in life are: The doctor will see you now. The cheque is in the post. Tonight, a new series from Michael McIntyre. But the worst is…Bus Replacement Service (pause for music from any Hammer Horror film).

Yes, just when you want to see family and friends, here comes the dreaded BRS.

I have had so many weekends/bank holidays ruined thanks to signs saying you must get off the train at Birkenhead North.

The bus eventually trundles up, the driver sighs and we all get on – some with suitcases and screaming kids – then we proceed on an unmagical mystery tour of housing estates and shopping malls.

The part of the BRS that always gets to me is they really seem to think they’re doing us a big favour, as if they have come to our rescue.

No. We have bought a train ticket. The BRS bus replacement system should be re-branded “Sorry For The Inconvenience” service. And they should provide a luxury coach to make up for the misery caused by temporarily de-railing our travel plans.

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ROONEY ON THE BALL

I was sad to hear of the passing of one of the Hollywood greats – Mickey Rooney.

The 5ft 2ins star was an entertainment legend and I was lucky to interview him when he played the Royal Court in Liverpool back in 2006.

The eight-times married song and dance man talked about his love for Judy Garland in a very moving way – he was choked when he remembered working with her on silver screen classics.

He called me “pal” just like he did in the movies and, at 85, he was sharp and funny throughout our chat - and he he did his homework too: “Hey, I believe you have a Rooney in Liverpool, too,” he chuckled, praising Wayne’s performance in the England squad. Always on the ball – that was Mickey.

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AND finally...When the musical Singing In The Rain comes to the Liverpool Empire next week the production involves 12,000 litres of water – that’s the equivalent to the volume of tears shed by “consciously uncoupled” Gwyneth Paltrow on her last Oscar acceptance speech.