Employment Service (Hansard, 5 May 1999)

§ Mr. Blunkett

The Aim of the Employment Service is to contribute to high levels of employment and growth, and to individuals leading rewarding working lives, by 381W helping all people without a job find work and employers fill their vacancies. This aim is supported by six key Objectives.

I am today announcing the targets I have set the Employment Service for 1999–2000 for each of its Objectives. Objective A: To help people into work by providing the appropriate advice, guidance, training and support either directly or in partnership with others. Target: 1. To place 1.25 million unemployed people into work. Objective B: To concentrate efforts on helping people improve their employability and move from welfare to work particularly if they have already spent long periods without a job. Targets: 2. To place 190,000 long-term (6 months plus) JSA claimants into work. 3. To place 38,000 JSA claimants out of work for 2 years or more, including New Deal for over 25s participants, into work: 4. To place 100,000 New Deal for 18–24 participants into work; 5. To place 15,000 New Deal for Lone Parents participants into work; Objective C: To involve people with disabilities in the world of work by helping them to find and retain jobs and encouraging employers to open more opportunities to them. Target: 6. To place 85,000 unemployed people with disabilities, including New Deal for Disabled People participants, into work. Objective D: To set out clearly the rights and responsibilities of people who claim Jobseeker's Allowance and ensure that throughout the period of their claim these rights and responsibilities are fulfilled. Target: 7. To ensure the correct application of the JSA process in at least 96 per cent. of cases checked in quarter four of 1999–2000. Objective E: To provide a courteous and professional customer service to all jobseekers. Target: 8. To achieve an 87 per cent. customer service delivery rate. Objective F: To deliver these services cost effectively.

Targets for the Employment Service in Scotland and Wales, derived from the national targets, will be announced shortly.

I am also announcing today a review of the aims, Objectives and targets of the ES for the year 2000 and beyond, to ensure they continue to be an accurate reflection of the key role ES has to play in the implementation and operation of our employment policies.