HC Deb 22 February 1994 vol 238 cc196-8W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the duties of the eight staff at the Fish Quay office in Brixham and the nature of their administration support to the Brixham jobcentre.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 22 February 1994: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the duties of the eight staff at the Fish Quay office in Brixham and the nature of their administrative support to the Brixham Jobcentre. The eight staff employed at the Fish Quay, Brixham are involved in the maintenance of claims to unemployment benefits of approximately 1,400 claimants and the payment of training allowances to 50 trainees on Training for Work. The office also maintains the claims to benefit made by Share Fishermen; is responsible for making referrals to the Benefits Adjudication Office; and for liaising with the local Benefits Agency. However, because the premises are split, the ability of the staff at the Fish Quay to operate as part of the Back to Work Team linking with advisers and vacancy staff in the Jobcentre is reduced. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much was spent on refurbishing the Brixham jobcentre in each of the financial years since 1989–90.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 22 February 1994: The Secreary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how much was spent on refurbishing the Brixham Jobcentre in each of the financial years since 1989–90. I repeat my earlier response to your Parliamentary Question No. 7067 that no funds have been spent on refurbishment in 1992 and 1993. During the period 1989 to 1991 a contract was awarded in October 1991 to the value of £19,259 for alterations and refurbishment and further amount of £22,895 was spent on furniture, telephone equipment and new signage. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the obstacles preventing the Brixham jobcentre from offering a full service mentioned in the chief executive's letter of 9 February to the hon. Member for South Ham.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 22 February 1994: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the obstacles preventing the Brixham Jobcentre from offering a full service mentioned in my earlier letter of 9 February 1994. The main obstacle to providing a full service is the space available within the two premises in Brixham. The space requirements calculations carried out in April 1993 indicated a total space requirement for both offices at Brixham of approximately 7,500 square feet. Currently the total space available in both Employment Service (ES) premises is 4,515 square feet. Such a deficit has an obvious detrimental effect to the range of customer services that can be provided, namely: (a) virtually no privacy can be provided for clients discussing personal circumstances/problems whilst making their benefit claims or discussing their back to work plans with advisory staff; (b) limitations on the siting of Information Technology (IT) equipment have reduced the efficiency and effectiveness of the Jobcentre services. With such limited space the siting of equipment is also causing overcrowding problems reducing the effectiveness of contacts between staff and clients; (c) the job display area is cramped and not conducive to calm consideration of job vacancy details; (d) there are no facilities for employers to interview job seekers at the Jobcentre; (e) operating a split site for such a small team (20 in total) reduces flexibility and effectiveness; with 12 staff at the Jobcentre and eight at the Fish Quay. There is a cost of approximately £70 per month in transporting claims and other paperwork between the two offices; (f) in the integrated Jobcentre service currently provided by most Jobcentres now in South West Region the Benefit and Job broking activities work successfully together in a Back to Work Team concept that has proved very successful in terms of service to clients and employers. Such a model is not possible operating as Brixham does in split premises. I hope this is helpful.