§ 19. Mr. PlaskittTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that those in receipt of jobseeker's allowance take up appropriate job offers. [63404]
§ Malcolm WicksIt is a fundamental principle of our welfare reform programme to match rights with responsibilities.
For our part we are engaging actively with jobless people to provide them with employment opportunities. For example, our new deals for young people and 25 plus have already helped over 460,000 people to work-450 in my hon. Friend's constituency. And we plan to rollout a further 225 new jobcentre plus offices by spring of next year delivering a single, integrated service to people of working age, with a clear focus on work.
In return, we expect jobless people to take up these opportunities. For the minority who choose not to participate in the new deal, or who fail to take up suitable job offers, we have a rigorous sanctions regime to reduce or suspend their jobseeker's allowance. During 2001–02, just over 38,000 people were subject to a Jobseeker's Allowance sanction for refusing to take up an offer of employment.