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Jobcentre Plus: Dorset

Answer

[holding answer 19 May 2008]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 4 June 2008:"The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of customers in Dorset and Somerset who used the Out of Hours Service that Jobcentre Plus operates on behalf of his Department in each of the last six months for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.""Since October 2007 there have been 203 referrals to the Out of Hours Service in Dorset and Somerset. Of these referrals 88 were 'effective', i.e. resulted in a visit because they were appropriate referrals.""The information available is set out in the table below."

	Referrals	Visits	Percentage of calls resulting in visit
October 2007	26	13	50
November 2007	20	12	60
December 2007	62	20	32
January 2008	29	10	34
February 2008	33	14	42
March 2008	33	19	58
Total	203	88	43
Source:
Collected locally by South West Out of Hours Service and this format may not be compatible with information collected by other Out of Hours offices.

"Since the Out of Hours Service was established we have radically changed the way we deliver our services. There is now easier access to Crisis Loans and efficient telephony channels for customers to resolve any problems with benefit and pension claims. The introduction of direct payment into bank accounts has almost eliminated the non-receipt/loss of benefit payments. These changes have dramatically reduced the need for Out of Hours emergency payments, especially during the week. As a result, with effect from 12 May 2008, the Out of Hours Service is now only available at weekends, statutory holidays and when there are exceptional circumstances resulting in an office closure."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

476 c1019-20W; 206553

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Jobcentre Plus Somerset Dorset

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk