§ 2. Mr. Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)What representations he has received about operational difficulties in the administration of the jobseeker's allowance. [40034]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. Alan Howarth)The Government have received a number of representations from individuals and organisations on a variety of jobseeker's allowance-related operational issues. We welcome comments from organisations, members of the public and staff.
§ Mr. KirkwoodI pay tribute to front-line staff in both the Department for Education and Employment and the Benefits Agency who administer the jobseeker's allowance. Does the Minister accept that their job is made much more difficult by the split between data processing and collection—which is the responsibility of the Department for Education and Employment—and benefit payment, which is undertaken by the Benefits Agency? Does he agree that the split is inefficient, and makes the situation more difficult for both staff and customers? Will he give the House an undertaking that he will very carefully examine the matter, and not only listen to the pointy-heads in his own policy department, but talk to the people who pay the benefit about whether one Department or the other—I am agnostic about which—takes full responsibility for the benefit?
§ Mr. HowarthI appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern that the system should be as manageable as possible—above all for jobseekers, but also for the staff who serve them. I agree that the success that the staff of both the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service have made of jointly administering the JSA is a tribute to their commitment to public service. Ernst and Young has conducted an independent review and reported that, at local level, working relations between the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency are largely very good. There are procedures for the two agencies to resolve any operational difficulties that may arise locally. However, I certainly do not dismiss the hon. Gentleman's comments and will re-examine the matter afresh.