§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the respective roles of the(a) Employment Service, (b) Disability Employment Adviser and (c) job broker in delivering the New Deal for Disabled People. [148936]
§ Ms Hodge[holding answer 7 February 2001]: The Employment Service, in partnership with the Benefits Agency, Department of Social Security and my Department, has responsibility for the delivery of the New Deal for Disabled People. Later this year, the Employment Service and the working age elements of the Benefits Agency will merge to form the new Working Age Agency. Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) will continue to provide advice about job opportunities to all disabled people whatever their benefit status who are looking for work, providing access to specialist ES programmes aimed at securing a return to work and, in appropriate cases, provide details of local job brokers. The job broker will provide help to people claiming incapacity benefits in preparing for, finding and keeping paid work. Job brokers will work closely with DEAs to meet the individual needs of their clients. For example, where a client is eligible and requires support under Access to Work, this will be provided through the DEA. The job broker will also work with employers to match their requirements to the abilities and potential of their clients.