§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been distributed through the New Deal for Communities to fund programmes aimed at increasing benefit take-up. [86739]
§ Mrs. RocheNew Deal for Communities is a key programme in the Government's national strategy to renew the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. It tests out the new approaches in the strategy, in 39 neighbourhoods across England.
The Government have provided the following funding to enable Benefits Agency—and latterly, Jobcentre Plus staff—to work with New Deal for Communities partnerships on issues relating to benefits and helping people to find jobs.
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- 1999–2000—£1.3 million
- 2000–01—£1.6 million
- 2001–02—£1.7 million
This funding initially aimed to provide information and advice on all Social Security benefits including housing benefit, which can be paid to people on low incomes, and other in-work benefits. Following the creation of the Department for Work and Pensions—bringing together the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service—there has been an equal emphasis on moving people to a more work ready state, job brokering, advising about the various New Deal programmes and in-work benefit advice.
The NRU pays for additional DWP/Jobcentre Plus staff to work in each NDC area. This equates to an extra £50,000 per year for each neighbourhood. Typically, it enables DWP to provide 1–2 dedicated members of staff to work in support of the partnership.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information centrally about the amount of funding allocated by individual partnerships to programmes to increase benefits take-up.