Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to Jobcentre Plus of employing (a) fixed term temporary staff and (b) casual staff was (i) in each of the last three financial years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date. [245454]
Mr. McNulty:
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive, Mel Groves. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
15 Jan 2009 : Column 973W
Letter from Mel Groves:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the cost to Jobcentre Plus of employing fixed term staff and casual staff in each of the last three financial years and in 2008-09 to date. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Details of fixed term temporary staff are not separately identifiable in the accounts. However, I am able to provide details of expenditure on employing casual/temporary staff for the requested years as follows:
Period
£ million
2005-06
45.8
2006-07
26.4
2007-08
19.8
2008-09
16.9
Note:
2008-09 covers period from 1 April 2008 to 30 November 2008 Source:
DWP financial system
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) England claimed jobseeker's allowance in each year since it was introduced. [247593]
Mr. McNulty:
The available information is in the table.
Jobseeker's allowance claimants in North Yorkshire and England
As at November each year
England
North Yorkshire
1996
1,528,620
11,990
15 Jan 2009 : Column 974W
1997
1,120,390
8,865
1998
1,030,330
8,070
1999
924,785
7,220
2000
800,200
6,105
2001
740,795
5,650
2002
730,620
5,030
2003
715,290
4,955
2004
651,320
4,240
2005
722,685
4,780
2006
771,165
5,350
2007
657,270
4,690
2008
878,045
6,430
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
2. Data are published at https://www.nomisweb.co.uk
3. Jobseeker's allowance replaced unemployment benefit and income support for unemployed people on 7 October 1996.
4. Figures exclude clerical cases. Source:
100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.
Anne Main:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of jobseeker’s allowance have had that allowance withdrawn following a failure to meet the conditions attached to receipt of the allowance in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by category. [243685]
Mr. McNulty:
The available information is in the following table.
Number of individuals with jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) sanctions/disallowances in Great Britain
2007
2008
Aug
Sep t
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Total
23,100
19,910
22,750
23,260
14,710
23,500
24,730
21,320
25,430
25,910
27,920
31,380
Varied sanctions —discharge from HM forces
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Varied sanctions—leaving employment voluntarily
3,740
3,300
3,920
3,710
2,820
4,100
3,680
3,400
3,770'
3,890
3,760
3,820
Varied sanctions—lost employment through misconduct
800
730
720
800
580
970
1,060
880
1,010
1,040
950
940
Varied sanctions—NTA of an opportunity of employment
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Varied sanctions—refusal of employment
730
700
850
1,050
820
1,060
990
860
1,080
1,070
1,190
1,360
Fixed Sanction—giving up place on training scheme/emp prog
240
190
220
190
150
200
220
170
210
210
240
280
Fixed Sanction—losing place on place on training scheme/emp prog due to misconduct
600
510
610
560
420
600
660
650
800
790
970
1,100
Fixed Sanction—refusal of place on training scheme/emp prog
10
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
40
Fixed Sanction—NTA of place on training scheme/emp prog
30
20
20
20
20
30
20
20
30
30
30
20
Fixed Sanction—FTA place on training scheme/emp prog
1,760
1,430
1,470
1,530
1,130
1,560
1,690
1,450
1,710
1,690
1,950
2,250
Fixed Sanction—Refusal to carry out a JS direction
270
210
280
230
180
200
220
210
210
240
270
320
Entitlement—Actively seeking employment
2,970
2,640
3,380
3,690
1,890
2,860
3,700
3,160
3,460
3,230
3,780
4,440
Entitlement—Availability questions
540
540
530
490
310
400
440
330
430
440
560
690
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15 Jan 2009 : Column 976W
Entitlement—FTA Advisory interview/Failure to produce signed declaration
11,390
9,620
10,690
10,930
6,330
11,490
12,000
10,140
12,690
13,230
14,180
16,080
Entitlement—JSAg questions
20
20
30
30
30
10
30
30
20
30
20
30
Entitlement—Trade disputes
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Entitlement—Joint Claim exemption
10
—
10
10
—
—
10
—
—
—
—
10
Definitions:
NTA—Neglected to avail themselves
FTA—Failed to attend
JSAg—Jobseeker’s agreement
Notes:
1. Individuals and decisions based figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2. The most recent adverse sanction is shown for each individual.
3. Figures include all individuals who have had all or just part of their JSA payments sanctioned or withdrawn.
4. Varied length sanctions are sanctions of between one week and 26 weeks imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer who makes the decision.
5. Fixed length sanctions are sanctions of two weeks (four weeks if repeated within 12 months, and 26 weeks if already received a four week sanction within last 12 months) imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker’s direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer’s decision on a sanction question.
6. Entitlement sanctions apply to questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the Jobseeker’s agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate: Jobseeker's Allowance Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database
