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Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 March 2009. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 April 2009 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.


Jobcentre Plus

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of people who have used the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response service in the last 12-months and (b) the number and proportion of those people who found employment through the service.
Answer

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.Letter from Mel Groves dated 21 April 2009:"The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of (a) the number of people who have used the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response service in the last 12 months and (b) the number and proportion of those people who found employment through the service. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.""The Rapid Response Service (RRS) was expanded in November 2008. The service is now available whenever an employer is faced with a possible need to make people redundant. We contact each employer who notifies the Insolvency Service of a proposal to make 20 or more people redundant at one establishment. We also offer RRS support to other employers who we know are going to make people redundant whenever we judge that the potential impact on the local labour market of the cumulative effect of recent redundancies justifies using RRS.""Since the service was expanded, over 1,000 employers have accepted offers of RRS support for employees facing redundancy, or the possibility of redundancy. Our administrative records suggest that, all told, more than 150,000 employees were facing possible redundancy in those situations.""We do not record the numbers of people finding jobs during the delivery of RRS support. The RRS is just one part of the overall service we provide to people who lose their jobs and need help to move back into work as quickly as possible."


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
491 c649-50W; 262512
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Rapid response service
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk