§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on how the National Partnership Accord will work alongside other national and area based initiatives tackling poverty and exclusion. [118168]
§ Mr. BrowneIn May, the Partnership Accord was launched as a joint initiative between the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus and the Local Government Association.
One of the primary aims of the partnership is to demonstrate that an effective multi-agency approach can contribute to economic prosperity and the well being of workless people. The Accord will complement other initiatives designed to tackle poverty and social exclusion by, for example, working with the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and Learning and Skills Council to improve the quality of local neighbourhood renewal strategies.
Through the sponsorship of economic regeneration and employment initiatives, local authorities will also help increase local employment rates and help to remove 847W barriers to work. They will also offer their vacancies to local Jobcentre Plus clients, and, through the efficient administration of Housing Benefit, will support the aim of increasing sustained employment rates amongst disadvantaged groups.