§ Mr. George OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group was formed; [168842]
- (2) who the members are of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group; [168843]
- (3) what the main (a) function and (b) purpose is of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group; [168844]
- (4) what the select on process is for the membership of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group; [168845]
- (5) how often and where the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group meetings take place. [168846]
§ Jane KennedyThe administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. George Osborne, dated 12 May 2004:
As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
The inaugural meeting of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group was held on the 6th September 2002.
The Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group's membership includes representatives from several of our largest work-based private sector providers, together with providers in the voluntary and community sector, smaller private providers and Further Education establishments. In addition, membership includes the Association of Learning Providers (ALP), a trade body for the work-based sector who represent approximately 30% of Jobcentre Plus providers. The Group is supported by a small secretariat from Jobcentre Plus. Full membership of the Group is set out in Annex 1.
363WThe purpose of the Group is to provide a forum in which providers are consulted on changes to policy and operational processes. In practice this gives them the opportunity to comment upon policies from their perspective as organisations that deliver these policies. The Group enables Jobcentre Plus to obtain the views of providers from a wide background and should help ensure that our business can be delivered more effectively and efficiently.
There is no formal selection process. In order to ensure the arrangements are manageable, the Group has a membership of approximately 20. However, we do try to be inclusive as possible, and membership is potentially open to each of our providers. In setting up the group we attempted to ensure that a range of providers was represented. In addition to our inviting a number of the largest providers, each Jobcentre Plus Region was requested to nominate a local provider, to ensure that the Group offers views from smaller providers. Some Jobcentre Plus regions also hold their own meetings of local provider groups where there are region-specific issues to discuss.
The Group meets on a regular basis, usually bi-monthly, and meetings are held in Sheffield.
I hope this is helpful.
Annex 1: Jobcentre Plus Provider Group Membership Contact Provider David Bailey Action for Employment Steve Marsland Action for Employment Pat Taylor Personnel Evaluation Consultants George Allon BTCV Roger Cole Pelcombe Training Stephanie Baslington Rathbone Janet Pibworth Seetec Jim McIntosh Shaw Trust Teresa Jolly/Colin Kearney Sheffield City Council George Baines Standguide Jim Gambles Standguide Martin Dunford TBG learning Dawn Marsh The Training Network Group A Townson Bournemouth and Poole College Gerard Irwin Reed Co. UK Sian Woolson Dash Training Ltd Diane Prosser Dash Training Ltd Sharon Cooke Bethany Group Sarah Cooke DHP enterprises David Cameron Scottish Council for voluntary organisations Sarah Knight Instant Muscle Paul Warner ALP Adrienne Nolan WACG LMD Skills and Int Beth Simpson DFES Peter Jordan LSC David Williams TD management Services Jill Valentine UFI