HC Deb 02 April 2001 vol 366 c93W
Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made in setting up the new agency for working age people. [156802]

Mr. Darling

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I are establishing the new agency for working age people later this year. We announced on 14 March the locations of around 50 pathfinder offices bringing together labour market and benefit services for people of working age. These offices will be the first stage in the launch of this new Agency.

We can further announce today that the new Agency and its local offices will be called "Jobcentre Plus". We shall be introducing the name "Jobcentre Plus" in local offices as they roll out the integrated benefit and employment service, starting with the first pathfinder offices in October. But, more widely, the new Agency will be referred to as "Jobcentre Plus" ' from today.

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