§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken to aid job placement for the unemployed in Wales. [160925]
§ Mr. BrowneOur active labour market policies ensure people can take advantage of the many job opportunities coming up all the time. This is especially true for those most disadvantaged; the long-term unemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and older workers.
The development of Jobcentre Plus is building on the high quality service already provided by social security offices and Jobcentres by delivering a single, integrated service to all people if working age, with a clear focus on work. The introduction of work-focused interviews 1033W enables more people to take advantage of the increasing opportunities to move into work by for the first time, offering everyone of working age advice and guidance on the full range of Jobcentre Plus programmes. In the year up to January 2004 Jobcentre Plus had been notified of 200,000 vacancies in Wales.
There are currently 1.31 million people in work in Wales. This is an increase of 28,000 over the last year and of 100,000 since 1997. Our New Deal has helped over 63,000 people into employment in Wales and our Employment Zones and Action Teams have additionally helped more than 1,600 of the hardest to help people in to work.