Examination of Witnesses (Questions 200
- 206)
MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2004
Department for Work and Pensions and Department for
Education and Skills
Q200 Jim Sheridan: There was the
briefest recognition in the Report that people from ethnic minorities
are suffering even more barriers than others. If I look through
your Report at all of the smiling faces, there is no ethnic minority
person in there. Are you doing anything to help ethnic minority
people get back into work?
Sir Richard Mottram: We are indeed
trying to do a lot. I do not want to go into PSA targets again,
but we have a target to do that. We have a cross-Government taskforce
at ministerial level supported by an official level group that
works out of my Department closely with other Departments and
it is a very big priority for us to improve ethnic-minority employment.
The point you make about the pictures is very interesting. I do
not think the Department picks the pictures but I think it is
a very good point, if I may say so. Sorry, it is not for me to
say your points are good but I think it is a very interesting
point. Ethnic-minority employment and the variations between different
ethnic minorities are very, very big priorities for us as a Department.
Q201 Chairman: Thank you very much.
Can you just look at paragraph 3.15 on page 46 where you will
see there it says: "There is potential, in particular, to
improve co-ordination between Jobcentre Plus offices and local
Learning and Skills Councils" and both are often contracting.
What are you doing to right this state of affairs?
Mr Anderson: We have a lot of
close working with LSCs that has really picked up over the last
12 months, particularly since the publication of the NEP report
on skills. There are three areas. There are local co-ordinated
service delivery plans being developed for Jobcentre Plus offices
and local LSCs that they are working on together. Also, there
is a joint working group at official level on the contracting
issues because there are different types of provision bought from
the same people and we need to bring the contractual terms together.
Then we have a senior steering group that meets regularly with
LSCs and makes sure that we are directing our efforts in the best
possible way. I think there is a focus on partnership working.
Sir Richard mentioned before that we think we are more joined-up
here than we have been in the past.
Q202 Chairman: Can we have a note,
please, on the variations between Regional Development Agencies'
responses to the campaign?
Sir Richard Mottram: To?
Chairman: Mr Alan Williams asked this.
Q203 Mr Williams: We have had a Report
saying that there are variations between areas and also between
regions and there are variations in the way in which the Regional
Development Agencies have reacted and responded. Could you let
us have a note on that rather than spelling it out now.
Sir Richard Mottram: Yes.[3]
Q204 Chairman: Thank you very much.
We have focused very much on Incapacity Benefit and I am sure
we will want to return to this in our report. In answer to Mr
Bacon there was an interesting answer, that it might be necessary
to change the name of the benefit at some stage in the future.
Sir Richard Mottram: I believe
it is a very important thing. Why would you have a benefit that
defines things that people are not capable of doing? What we are
interested in is defining things people are capable of doing and
helping them to do them.
Q205 Chairman: That is a very good
note to finish on. I, for one, am glad that all Permanent Secretaries
born in 1946 or after will be able to carry on until they are
65, including yourself.
Sir Richard Mottram: I am afraid
I do not count because, unfortunately, I am the wrong side of
October 2006.
Mr Jenkins: You can carry on voluntarily.
Q206 Chairman: We enjoy having you,
Sir Richard. Thank you very much.
Sir Richard Mottram: Thank you,
Chairman.
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