HC Deb 18 October 1995 vol 264 cc294-5W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Educationa and Employment if she will list the placement success for each jobcentre office in Wales in the past financial year, expressed(a) as numbers of jobs and (b) as shares of the Welsh total. [37206]

Mr. Forth

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. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 18 October 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the placement successes for jobcentres in Wales in the last financial year.The information you have requested is contained in the attached table.I am pleased to be able to report that total placings achieved in Wales in 1994–95 was 8.9% above target and showed an increase of 11% on the achievement in 1993–94.I hope this is helpful.
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what evaluation she has made of the relative success in job placements as between stand-alone jobcentres and integrated jobcentre and benefit offices; and if she will make a statement. [37204]

Mr. Forth

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. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 18 October 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the relative success in job placements between stand alone Jobcentres and integrated Jobcentre and Benefit Offices.I think it would be helpful to explain the background and rationale for the move from stand alone Jobcentres to integrated Jobcentres. Over the past five years we have worked to establish a new network of offices which bring Jobcentres and Benefit Office services together under one roof. By doing so, this provides an improved one stop service offering the full range of services to help people back to work.In establishing this network we have, wherever possible, made use of our existing estate to ensure value for money for the tax payer and the minimum of inconvenience to our clients.There has been no formal evaluation relating to job placements and the integration process. However, I am pleased to be able to tell you the Jobcentre placings of unemployed people rose from 1.39 million in 1990/91 to 1.87 million in 1994/95. We also take account of what users of our services tell us; our National Customer Satisfaction Survey has confirmed that there is a continuing high level of client satisfaction with integrated Jobcentres and a public preference for them rather than separate offices.I hope this is helpful.