§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the annual performance targets for the Employment Service in 1997–98; and what were the targets and outcomes achieved in 1996–97. [7734]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithEmployment Service targets for 1997–98 were published by the previous administration on March 19, 1997. We are in the final stages of reviewing these and the revised Annual Performance Agreement for 1997–98 which will include targets will be published before the end of this month.
The following table gives details of performance in 1996–97. During that year Employment Service performance was adversely affected by the unprecedented effort required to introduce and operate successfully the Labour Market System and the Jobseeker's Allowance.
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Employment Service performance against targets in 1996–97 Indicators Target Achieved Placings of Unemployed people1 1.97 million at a unit cost of £212 assuming 2.66 million vacancies notified 1.685 million unit cost £234 2.67 million vacancies notified Placings of JSA Claimants1 (October 1996 t0 March 1997)2 561,450 508,400 Placings of Long-Term Claimants1 29.5 per cent. 24.3 per cent. (410,000) Placings of People with Disabilities1 4.4 per cent 5.1 per cent. (86,000) Positive outcomes from 12 month interventions 4.3 per cent. 38 per cent. Positive outcomes from 24 month interventions 35 per cent. 30 per cent. Referrals to and starts on Training for Work 489,000 referrals 163,000 starts 394,000 referrals 150,300 starts New claims not pursued 10 per cent. 11 per cent. Submissions to Adjudication 215,000 202,800 Training for Work allowance payments 97 per cent. by value to be accurate 98 per cent. Percentage of JSA Claimants offered a Jobseeker's Agreement (October 1996–March 1997)2 100 per cent. 98.9 per cent. Accuracy of UB payment (April-September 1996)2 97 per cent. 96.8 per cent. Speed of UB first payments where UB is the first payment made (April-September 1996)3 75 per cent. with 12 days 74.7 per cent. within 12 days Efficiency savings £43 million £44.34 million 1 The Employment Service has recently taken action to ensure that job placings are recorded strictly in accordance with ES procedures. This may impact on future levels of recorded performance. Past levels of recorded performance may have been overstated. 2 Target from October 1996 following the introduction of the Jobseeker's Allowance. 3 This work transferred to the Benefits Agency following the introduction of the Jobseeker's Allowance in October 1996.