§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of time is spent by personal advisers(a) on advising on benefits claims and (b) advising job seekers. [50691]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownThe administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Miss Anne McIntosh dated April 2002:
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the proportion of time spent by personal advisers on a) advising on benefits claims and b) advising job seekers. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.The main purpose of personal advisers is to help people move into or closer to work. Advisers therefore spend the majority of their time at interviews discussing jobs, training and other opportunities that are available to help people into work. As part of this, they will often provide information about Tax Credits and those benefits that people may receive when in work. More generally, depending on the circumstances of the person they are interviewing, personal advisers will seek to ensure that any questions or issues relating to benefits are satisfactorily resolved either by providing information or help themselves or by ensuring that it is provided by colleagues with the appropriate knowledge.I hope this is helpful.