§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress the employment service has made in meeting the targets outlined in the 1991–92 agency agreement; and if he will show for the latest possible date(a) the total unemployed job placings and variance from target, (b) the long-term unemployed job placings and variance from target, (c) people with disabilities job placings and variance from target, (d) inner-city job placings and variance from target, (e) the number of claims not pursued following initial contact and variance from profiled annual reference level, (f) the number of claimants moved from unemployment benefit to another benefit and variance from annual reference level and (g) the number of people who withdrew their claim to benefit after contact with fraud investigators and variance from annual reference level.
Mr. JacksonI am informed by the Chief Executive of the Employment Service that in the period April to September 1991 289,360 people inquired at local offices of the Employment Service about entitlement to benefit but did not pursue a claim—annual reference level 442,000. The number of claimants moved to an appropriate benefit other than unemployment benefit is not a reference level in the ES annual performance agreement for 1991–92. For the remainder of the question I refer the hon. Member to my answer given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter), on 26 November 1991,Official Report, columns 496–98.