§ Mr. Derek TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to extend the use of work-focused interviews within the Working Age Agency. [153900]
§ Mr. DarlingMy tight hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I are establishing, later this year, the Working Age Agency. This will bring together labour market and benefit services for people of working age and enable us to provide a more integrated approach for our customers.
As the first stage in the launch of the Working Age Agency, we will be introducing around 50 Pathfinder offices. A provisional list of their locations is set out in the table. People of working age making a claim for benefit in these offices will be required to participate in a work-focused interview as an integral part of the benefit claims process and will be offered specialist support to help them into work. I will shortly be laying regulations under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 for this purpose. 609W
WAA Pathfinder sites (provisional) City/town Number Greenock 1 1 Port Glasgow 1 1 Livingston 1 City of Aberdeen 3 Bridgend 2 Maesteg 1 Pyle 1 Porthcawl 1 South West Birmingham 3 Telford 2 Madeley 1 Wellington 1 Wallasey 1 Hoylake 1 Blackburn 2 Darwen 1 Manchester Openshaw 2 Halifax 22 Huddersfield 22 Dewsbury 22 Todmorden 21 City Derby 4 Gateshead 2 Felling 1 Blaydon 1 Birtley 1 Exmouth 1 Honiton 1 Tiverton 1 Sidmouth 1 Chelmsford 12 Southend 11 Rayeigh 11 Willesden 1 Wembley 1 Kilburn 1 Harlesden 1 Winchester 1 Streatham 1 1 ONE Basic Model Pilot 2 ONE Call Centre Pilot