§ Ms BuckTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 16 to 24-year-olds were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in(a) May 1997 and (b) January 2001. [152334]
§ Ms JowellThe following table illustrates numbers of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants in 1997 and 2001. Figures for January 1997 and January 1998 are also included in order to enable annual comparisons in the absence of seasonal adjustments:
444W
16–17 year olds 18–24 year olds Total January 1997 16,510 457,950 474,460 May 1997 17,750 382,020 399,780 January 1998 15,230 357,070 372,310 January 2001 12,980 250,270 263,250
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost to the Employment Service has been of and how many Employment Service staff have been attributable to, the administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. [152450]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 6 March 2001]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mark Neale to Mr. Graham Brady, dated 12 March 2001:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question concerning the Employment Service cost of, and the number of staff attributable to the administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying on Mr Lewis behalf.The resource available to the Employment Service for the financial year 2000–2001 to administer Jobseeker's Allowance was £183m. This resource equated to approximately 10,600 staff in Jobcentres.I hope this is helpful