HC Deb 26 April 2004 vol 420 c846W
10. Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons are employed in jobcentres; and what estimate he has made of the total in 2004–05. [167686]

Jane Kennedy

Jobcentre Plus is at the cutting edge of a programme of public service investment and reform that is now starting to deliver efficiencies and improvements by releasing more people to front line employment and benefit services.

Jobcentre Plus had 62,595 people employed in these roles at the end of March this year. By the same time next year we estimate this figure will be around 61,000.

In the hon. Members' own constituency, there are over 200 people currently employed providing advice and information on training, jobs and benefits.

Over the last financial year they contributed to the success of the Essex District in helping 574 people back in to work through the New Deal and their disabled employment advisers helped 41 disabled people into work.