The comments came in reaction to concerns raised by Dundee East MSP Shona Robison.

She said, “On the basis of information that I have received, I am extremely concerned about the future of jobs at the Claverhouse pension centre.

“I have written to management there to seek assurances that there will be no job cuts.”

Ms Robison added that the city was still not getting its fair share of civil services jobs and the possibility of existing posts going was “unacceptable.”

The pension centre opened in 2002 and employs around 500 people.

It is understood that claims have been made of letters being sent to staff about voluntary redundancy.

But the DWP spokeswoman said today — “It is simply not true to say that staff have been written to asking them to consider voluntary redundancy.”

Her statement did not, however, give any assurances about the future level of employment at the centre and she made it clear that changes in the way the DWP works are under way.

She went on, “The Pension Service structure, including pension centres, is being reviewed as part of a programme of efficiency measures across all DWP business.

“The next stage of planning is currently being developed and more information will be provided as it becomes available over the coming weeks.

“The programme will allow us to complete the task we set out to achieve when we introduced the Pension Service and to meet the DWP budget challenge.

“It also supports our commitment to meeting targets and continuing to introduce new and better ways of working, supported by improved technology and smarter processes.

“This will enable us to deliver some very real improvements in our service to customers and in job satisfaction for our people.”