HC Deb 28 June 2000 vol 352 cc543-4W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what back-up systems exist to assist jobseekers in the case of the(a) breakdown and (b) malfunctioning of the ONE system; when he will review the operation of the ONE system; and if he will make a statement. [125891]

Ms Jowell

[holding answer 13 June 2000]: The ONE Call Centre service, one of the three main variants of the ONE model, is proving popular with clients and staff. It streamlines the service and makes it more convenient to clients, who are able to provide information by telephone.

The ONE Call Centre service is delivered from four sites. Each pilot has agreed contingency plans in the event of a breakdown or malfunction of systems, which ensures that the delivery of services to jobseekers is not put at risk.

The advantage of having four sites sharing the same telephony and IT is that, should a breakdown or malfunction occur in one site, the service can be offered by telephone from one of the other three call centres. Additional contingency plans involve the delivery of services face to face and the use of clerical records and forms rather than IT systems. These contingencies have been tested by the pilots in a number of situations since they became operational on 29 November 1999 and have proven robust.

The operation of the ONE pilots is under constant review and regular reports are provided to Ministers. The pilots are due to run for three years (to March 2002) and a formal evaluation will be completed at that time.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which organisations and individuals he has consulted while undertaking the cross departmental review on Welfare to Work and ONE; in what form he has consulted them; on how many occasions he has met them; and if he will make a statement. [126294]

Ms Jowell

[holding answer 19 June 2000]: All the Departments involved have consulted widely with both individuals and groups from all the Departments. This was reinforced by a seminar which included many people from the academic and wider policy community held on 18 January 2000 to discuss policy priorities. We have also sought other advice during the course of the review, for instance, from the New Deal Task Force.

The Welfare to Work and ONE Spending Review is progressing well. In due course details of all aspects of the 2000 Spending Review will be included in a Spending Review White Paper in the normal way.