§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answers of 27 November 2002, Refs 82508, 82511 and 82513, if he will list the additional job entry target point scores which apply in respect of each client group in each of the 60 local authority areas referred to; and if he will make a statement. [85292]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 4 December 2002]: The job entry target point scores are helping Jobcentre Plus to achieve the objectives laid out in its Business Plan for 2002–03. One of the Agency's goals is to help people of working age in the most disadvantaged groups and areas to move closer to the labour market, compete effectively for, and remain in work.
137WIt is these groups and areas that have been given highest weight. Awarding additional points in this way gives extra incentives to build Jobcentre Plus performance in difficult labour markets and towards those people who are hardest to help back into the labour market.
Details of the point scores are in the table.
Client Group Points per job entry Participants in the New Deal for Lone Parents 12 Other jobless lone parents 12 Participants in the New Deal for Disabled People 12 Other people with disabilities receiving benefit1 (other than those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance) 12 Other jobless people receiving benefit1 (other than those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance) 12 Participants in the New Deal for people aged 50+ 8 Participants in the New Deal for people aged 25+ 8 Participants in the New Deal for Young People aged 18 to 24 8 People helped into work through Employment Zones 8 Other people with disabilities 8 Other people who have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more. 8 People who have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance for up to six months 4 Other Jobless people not claiming benefits 2 People already employed, changing jobs 1 Additional Points People receiving Jobseeker's Allowance who remain off Jobseeker's Allowance four weeks after being helped into work 1 People living in 60 specified Local Authority areas. 2 1 The benefits are: Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Bereavement Benefit and Invalid Care Allowance.