§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to extend the use of work-focused interviews within the Working Age Agency. [153892]
§ Mr. BlunkettMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security and I are establishing, later this year, the Working Age Agency. This will bring together labour market and benefit services for people of working age and enable us to provide a more integrated approach for our customers.
As the first stage in the launch of the Working Age Agency, we will be introducing around 50 Pathfinder offices. A provisional list of their locations is set out in the following table. People of working age making a claim for benefit in these offices will be required to participate in a work-focused interview as an integral part of the benefit claims process and will be offered specialist support to help them into work. My right hon. Friend will shortly be laying regulations under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 for this purpose.
617W
WAA Pathfinder sites 1 City/town Number of pathfinders Greenock 21 Port Glasgow 21 Livingston 1 City of Aberdeen 3 Bridgend 2 Maesteg 1 Pyle 1 Porthcawl 1 South West Birmingham 3 Telford 2 Madeley 1 Wellington 1 Wallasey 1 Hoylake 1 Blackburn 2 Darwen 1 Manchester Openshaw 2 Halifax 32 Huddersfield 32 Dewsbury 32 Todmorden 31 City Derby 4 Gateshead 2 Felling 1 Blaydon 1 Birtley 1 Exmouth 1 Honiton 1 Tiverton 1
WAA Pathfinder sites1 City/town Number of pathfinders Sidmouth 1 Chelmsford 22 Southend 21 Rayeigh 21 Willesden 1 Wembley 1 Kilburn 1 Harlesden 1 Winchester 1 Streatham 1 1 Provisional 2 ONE Basic Model Pilot 3 ONE Call Centre Pilot