HC Deb 04 February 1987 vol 109 cc683-4W
Mr. Leighton

asked the Paymaster General how many claimant advisers the Department employs; whether they have been recruited from outside his Department; and what are their terms of reference.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Claimant advisers are being introduced into unemployment benefit offices to replace unemployment review officers who have been operating in the Department of Health and Social Security. Their job description is to provide advice and guidance to claimants to help them move out of unemployment; to ensure that they are available for and actively seeking work; advising on the availability condition and alternative benefits for which availability is not a requirement; to encourage and support claimants in the process of looking for work, and advise them of the services available through the MSC; to prepare cases for submission to the adjudicating authorities where availability is in doubt.

On 31 January 1987 there were 466 claimant advisers in post. This will rise to a full complement of 640 by 31 March 1987. Most of the posts are being filled by the transfer or promotion of staff within the Department of

Employed labour force in Great Britain
Total employed labour force of which:
Her Self-employed Employees in of which:
Majesty's Forces employment Full-time males Full-time females
June 19761 24,271,000 336,000 1,888,000 22,048,000 12,398,000 5,366,000
June 19771 24,295,000 327,000 1,843,000 22,126,000 12,395,000 5,433,000
June 19781 24,434,000 318,000 1,843,000 22,273,000 12,396,000 5,485,000
June 1979 24,794,000 314,000 1,842,000 22,638,000 n/a 5,585,000
June 1980 24,731,000 323,000 1,950,000 22,458,000 n/a 5,499,000
June 1981 23,777,000 334,000 2,058,000 21,386,000 n/a 5,290,000
September 19811 23,714,000 335,000 2,071,000 21,309,000 11,506,000 5,303,000
June 1982 23,348,000 324,000 2,109,000 20,916,000 n/a 5,202,000
June 1983 23,054,000 322,000 2,160,000 20,572,000 n/a 5,125,000
June 1984 23,502,000 326,000 2,435,000 20,741,000 n/a 5,234,000
September 19841 23,636,000 328,000 2,462,000 20,846,000 10,928,000 5,289,000
June 1985 23,859,000 326,000 2,543,000 20,990,000 10,855,000 5,352,000
June 1986 24,060,000 322,000 2,665,000 21,073,000 10,758,000 5,430,000
1 Census of employment figure.
n/a = Not available.

Employment, but a small number are also filled by the transfer of staff from other Government Departments or by recruits under the Civil Service direct entrant scheme.