§ Kali Mountford; To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the new organisations for people of working age and pensioners will be established. [2393]
§ Mr. DarlingThe Government are establishing a new business for people of working age, Jobcentre Plus, and a new service for pensions and pensioners, the Pension Service.
Jobcentre Plus will bring together the Employment Service with the working age part of the Benefits Agency to deliver a single, integrated service to people of working age and employers. The Pension Service will provide a unified, better and more modern service for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.
The first Jobcentre Plus offices will be launched in the autumn. Beyond that, we intend that Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service will formally come into existence as national organisations from 1 April 2002. The Benefits Agency and the Employment Service will therefore cease to exist at the end of this financial year on 31 March 2002.