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7 Nov 2005 : Column 141W—continued
Job Clubs
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) the impact of the reduction in the number of job clubs and (b) the effect of the use of larger contractors to manage services. [22492]
Margaret Hodge:
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
7 Nov 2005 : Column 142W
Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. David Drew, dated 7 November 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning his assessment of the impact of the reduction in the number of job clubs and the effect of the use of larger contractors to manage services. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobsearch help has not been provided through Jobclubs for a number of years. The service that Jobclubs used to offer is now delivered through Programme Centres, and these centres continue to play an important role in our portfolio of provision. However,
- in planning to make best use of reduced funding this year for our contracted provision, it was important that we gave priority to programmes helping those at greatest disadvantage including, for example, the New Deals. This does mean that, in some areas, Programme Centre contracts have not been extended or referral numbers have been cut this year.
The policy of using fewer, larger, contractors to manage services is being introduced in the current Jobseeker's Allowance New Deal contracting round for contracts due to begin in April 2006. It is too early to judge the effect. However, this policy has been introduced to rationalise a contract portfolio of some several thousand contracts. It should provide better value for money in contract management terms, as well as offering contracts of a size that are a more commercially viable proposition for providers. It aims also to alleviate the burden for smaller providers by offering them the scope to work with other local partners rather than having to bid for separate small contracts.
Job Creation
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the current review of job creation schemes. [21273]
Margaret Hodge: A review of our welfare to work programmes was commissioned in 2003 to ensure that our programmes were able to help the greatest proportion of economically inactive people into work, as well as those claiming jobseeker's allowance.
Our strategy paper 'Building on New Deal (BoND): Local solutions meeting individual needs' was published on 17 June 2004. The paper sets out our strategy for building on the success of our employment programmes.
Jobcentre Plus
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the end of job centre contracts in the last funding round, with particular reference to further education colleges. [22491]
Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Leslie Strathie to Mr. David Drew, dated 7 November 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the end of jobcentre contracts in the last funding round, with particular reference to further education colleges. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Most of our contracts were due to expire on 31 March 2005. We initially extended some contracts for six months, to allow decisions to be made on our future contract needs. We further extended some of those contracts from October 2005 to April 2006 to allow sufficient time for the tendering process and for new contracts to start next April. In deciding how to make best use of reduced funding this year, achievement of agreed performance targets was a key criterion for extending contracts.
Of those contracts either terminated early (for reasons of poor performance or quality) or not renewed, current information suggests that approximately 7 per cent. were with further education colleges.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what large scale redundancies have been notified to the Job Centre Plus in North Staffordshire by the Department of Trade and Industry. [21832]
Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lesley Strathie to Joan Walley, dated 7 November 2005:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what large scale redundancies have been notified to Jobcentre Plus in North Staffordshire by the Department of Trade and Industry. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Since March 2005, there have been 17 notifications of redundancies across North Staffordshire, involving 1,053 employees. Of these notifications, nine were designated by Jobcentre Plus for large scale redundancy status. These are as follows:
Lone Parents
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in Edinburgh, North and Leith have received the lone parent work search premium; [22023]
(2) how many people in Edinburgh, North and Leith have received the in-work credit. [22024]
Margaret Hodge: Information is not available for the constituency of Edinburgh, North and Leith, however, in the Edinburgh Jobcentre Plus district, 780 people have received the lone parent in-work credit and 190 people have received the lone parent work search premium.
New Deal
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on changes in the budget for new deal programmes for 2005–06. [21274]
Margaret Hodge:
Our aim is to ensure that all new deal participants have access to the full range of programme options. By actively managing our programme budgets, we will continue to ensure that support through the new deal will be available to those customers who need the most help and support, regardless of where they live. We have adjusted some regional allocations this year to ensure that we deliver our overall priorities.
7 Nov 2005 : Column 145W
Sir Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) registered on the new deal for disabled people and (b) obtained a sustained (i) part-time and (ii) full-time job through the new deal for disabled people. [14396]
Margaret Hodge: Between July 2001 and May 2005, a total of 144,360 people had registered with a new deal for disabled people (NDDP) job broker. The number of people gaining a job up to May 2005, following registration with an NDDP job broker, was 59,560. Of these, 29,170 were sustained full-time jobs and 8,620 were sustained part-time jobs.
1. For the purposes of new deal for disabled people, a job is regarded as sustained when a person, placed into work through an NDDP job broker, remains in work for 13 out of 39 weeks. Prior to October 2003, an NDDP job was regarded as sustained when a person, placed into work through an NDDP job broker, remained in work for 26 out of 39 weeks. 2. NDDP jobs data relate only to the number of individuals gaining a job through an NDDP Job Broker. A measure of sustainability is not available for non-job broker jobs. 3. Although data are now available on people into jobs through NDDP up to the end of August 2005, data provided is up to the end of May 2005, to allow three months for the job to be recorded as sustained. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
DWP Information Directorate
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