§ 11. Mr. John Healey (Wentworth)If he will make a statement on his plans for the new job transition service. [138369]
§ The Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities (Ms Tessa Jowell)As part of the pre-Budget Report, the Chancellor announced his intention to establish a new job transition service, which will focus specifically on providing flexible help to individuals, families and communities facing large-scale redundancy. Between now and the Budget, we will consult widely with employers, employees and all the local partners in order to ensure that the service meets real need.
A number of potential approaches are being piloted by the south Yorkshire taskforce to deal with the redundancies declared by Corns, which I know are a matter of major concern for all constituency Members of Parliament, especially my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (Mr. Healey).
§ Mr. HealeyI pay tribute to the support that my right hon. Friend and her Department have given Rotherham in dealing with the massive job cuts announced by Corus and other manufacturing firms. I welcome her commitment to trialling the new job transition service in Rotherham. Will she explain what extra help the new service is likely to bring to the work force and their families, as hundreds of workers now face redundancy at the hands of Corns?
§ Ms JowellThe practical elements of the programme will include considerably more intensive help and advice about training and available job opportunities, and will build on the personal adviser model that is now a feature of most of our labour market programmes. The programme will also focus on help for families and the partners of people facing redundancy, and will link with local employers and employers elsewhere who are seeking to recruit for vacancies and meet their skills shortages. The aim is to keep the period in which someone is out of work as short as possible. The programme will provide fast help for individuals and families.