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29 Mar 2007 : Column 1706Wcontinued
Number and percentage of incapacity benefit (IB)/severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in non -Pathways to Work areas | ||||
Quarter ending | Up to 4 months | Up to 4 months (percentage) | 4-12 months | 4-12 months (percentage) |
Notes. 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred 2. Numbers are based on a five per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 3. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only. 4. Local authorities and Government office regions are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. 5. Bridgend, Renfrewshire and Derbyshire were introduced as the first Pathways to Work areas in October 2003. 6. East Lancashire, Essex, Gateshead and South Tyneside and Somerset were introduced as Pathways to Work areas in April 2004 Source: Information Directorate five per cent. sample |
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the regular use of cannabis on the performance at work of those employees on whom the health and safety of members of the public depend. [127806]
Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 19 March 2007]: No such assessment has been made.
However, in 2004, Cardiff university produced a research report for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the impact of illegal drug use in the workplace. The report is available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr193.pdf.
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken by Jobcentre Plus to ensure that jobs advertised by agencies via Jobcentre Plus facilities exist and are not attempts to obtain CVs. [125668]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 29 March 2007:
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking what checks are undertaken by Jobcentre Plus to ensure that jobs advertised by agencies via Jobcentre Plus facilities exist and are not attempts to obtain CVs. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
As part of handling agencies through our Employer Direct Contact Centre or via our Employer Direct on-line service there are a number of steps taken before we accept their vacancies. These include making sure we have a signed service level agreement with the agency, which, among other things, clearly states they must not use our services merely to compile lists of potential employees. Over and above this, we also require details of the specific job in question, for example terms, conditions and a reference number, and confirmation that a contract exists between the agency and the employer.
Once accepted, vacancies placed through an Employer Direct Contact Centre or Employer Direct on-line are also subject to a 48-hour follow-up call from the Labour Market and Recruitment Adviser to discuss and agree ongoing handling arrangements. If suspicions are aroused about the legitimacy of the vacancy, either at this stage or subsequently, for example by a customer complaint, this is investigated fully and could, ultimately, lead to the withdrawal of service.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many calls to the central 0845 608 8564 Jobcentre Plus number were made in each month for which records are available; what the average time taken to answer customer calls to the number was in each month; and how many calls to the number were terminated before being answered in each month; [127850]
(2) what the maximum cost per minute is of calling the central 0845 608 8564 Jobcentre Plus number from (a) a land line and (b) a mobile telephone; [127851]
(3) which sections of Jobcentre Plus have to use the central 0845 608 8564 Jobcentre Plus number to make inquiries with central benefits teams; and which sections have alternative numbers by which to contact central benefit teams; [127852]
(4) how telephone and fax numbers for central benefits teams are circulated to (a) Jobcentre Plus offices and (b) Citizen's Advice Bureau offices. [127853]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 29 March 2007:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking about calls made to the 08456 088564 Jobcentre Plus number of the Department for Work and Pensions; the use of alternative numbers by Jobcentre Plus; and the circulation of telephone and fax numbers to Jobcentre Plus offices and Citizens Advice Bureau offices. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The telephone number 08456 088564 relates to Exeter, which we are currently converting into a Benefits Delivery Centre. The current telephony system only gathers limited management information. The information we hold shows an increase in calls answered each month from 6,426 calls in December 2006 to 7,385 in January 2007 and 7,770 in February 2007. However, the current system does not provide data detailing the average time taken to answer calls or how many calls were terminated before being answered.
An average call lasts about 4 minutesthe calls cost (set by BT) between 1-3p per minute (from a landline) depending on the time of day. Call charges from mobile telephones vary depending on the service provider.
All Jobcentre Plus offices in Somerset were given alternative direct dial telephone numbers for central benefit teams. In addition, an e-mail procedure has been established to allow Jobcentre Plus staff to contact the processing teams, to improve communication. This will be in place by Mid April. The telephone and fax numbers were shared with Citizens Advice Bureau offices by means of a leaflet issued in the week prior to the introduction of the 0845 number on 05 December 2006.
I hope this is helpful.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many constituencies more people claimed job seekers allowance at the end of 2006 than at the end of 1997. [118900]
Mr. Plaskitt: Nationally, the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance in Great Britain in December 2006 was a third less than in December 1997.
There were twenty-four constituencies in England where the number of people in receipt of jobseekers allowance at December 2006 was greater than the number receiving jobseekers allowance at December 1997.
There are no constituencies in Wales with such an increase.
Comparable Information is not available for Scottish constituencies due to major boundary changes between the two dates. However, for Scotland as a whole less people were in receipt of jobseekers allowance in 2006 than in 1997.
Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the Minister of State for Pension Reform to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute dated (a) 2 January and (b) 9 February on a constituent from the Isle of Mull. [130679]
Mr. Plaskitt: The hon. Member's letter was replied to on 29 March 2007.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the training providers of the new deal programmes, broken down by region. [111226]
Mr. Jim Murphy: This Department delivers new deal in England, Scotland and Wales. Information on new deal training providers in the nine English regions, Scotland and Wales is in the following lists and tables.
New deal training providers in English Regions
A4e
Instant Muscle
TBG Learning
Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
Fern Training and Development Ltd.
SEETEC
Support into Work
Work in Progress
Yes2work
Career Development Group
Skills Training
A4e
Community Links
Maatwerk
Mencap
SEETEC
Sencia Ltd.
Shaw Trust
Status Employment Ltd.
YMCA Training
A4e
Training Network Group Ltd.
Working Links
DISC
City Centre Training (Northern)
Shaw Trust
A4e
Best Ltd.
Fern training and Development Ltd.
The Calderdale Colleges Corporation
Wakefield Council
YH Training Services
A4e
Career Development Group
TBG Learning
Enham
WTCS
Oxfordshire Employment Service
Portsmouth Craft and Manufacturing Industries
SCOPE
Support Shop
Workbridge Enterprises
A4e
BTCV
Bournemouth and Poole College
Prospects Services
SEETEC
WTCS
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