HC Deb 23 March 1994 vol 240 cc286-7W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what guidance is given to the Employment Service Agency when trying to match the skills of an unemployed person attending a jobplan workshop with the employment available;

(2) what action is taken in respect of an unemployed person who refuses to accept a job or training place offered in a jobplan workshop.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. Fogden to Mrs. Ann Clwyd, dated 23 March 1994: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about Jobplan. You have asked how Jobplan can help an unemployed person match their skills with those required in the local labour market and whether any action is taken when someone refuses a job or a training place offered to them while on the Workshop. It may help if I explain that Jobplan aims to help people who have been unemployed for a year or more to compete for jobs and opportunities. About 80 per cent. of the people who first become unemployed leave the unemployment register within a year. For those who remain unemployed, confidence and the intensity of job search can decrease. People often believe that they have few options open to them. It is therefore important that at this stage people take a fresh look at their situation and have the chance to review their strengths and skills and set themselves clear, achievable job goals that take advantage of the help available. This can be achieved on Jobplan. Whilst on the Workshop, people are encouraged and helped to identify the skills and strengths they have demonstrated in both work and non-work situations. One of the sessions on the Workshop is devoted to examining the local labour market. The purpose of this is to tell the group about the types and numbers of jobs that are available in the area and the changing nature of work. They are then asked to consider which of their skills may be transferable and whether they might need to acquire new ones. Following this session each person has an individual guidance interview which in some cases can lead to them applying for further training. Jobplan is run on the Employment Service's behalf by organisations from the private, public and voluntary sectors. Every Workshop leader is provided with a copy of the Jobplan Leaders manual which provides guidance on running each session. At the end of the Workshop, everyone should be able to agree an Action Plan which sets out the steps they need to take to get back into work. This may be making one or more job applications or applying for a training place or other opportunity. If someone is offered a job or a training place on the Workshop and turns down the opportunity to start, no action will be taken. However, we would want to discuss with the person the factors that led to their decision and see what further help we could offer. Arrangements are made for all those completing the Workshop to be interviewed at the Jobcentre when they next sign. If at that time they refuse offers of suitable employment, we would refer their case to independent adjudication authorities.

I hope this is helpful.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women have participated in jobplan workshops in the Cynon Valley and in all other Welsh constituencies since their inception.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. Fogden to Mrs. Ann Clwyd, dated 23 March 1994: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of men and women who have started on Jobplan in Wales and in the Cynon Valley since the programme started. Jobplan Workshops are for people unemployed for a year who decline or fail to take up a job or a place on an Employment Department programme at the Restart interview. They aim to help people compete more successfully for jobs and opportunities by allowing them to review their strengths and skills, establish clear job goals and draw up an Action Plan, mapping out the steps they need to take to get them back to work. Jobplan started nationally in April 1993. It is possible to give the information asked for the Cynon Valley, as people who live in this valley are served by two Jobcentres, Mountain Ash and Aberdare. The details for the rest of Wales are not collected on a constituency basis and therefore the figures given are for the Principality as a whole. From April 1993 to February 1994, 406 men and 45 women have started on Workshops in the Cynon Valley. In Wales in total 9,873 people have started the Workshops, 8,402 men and 1,471 women. I hope this is helpful.