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Written question asked by Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 19 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 28 March 2001. It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 March 2001 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment;Employment Service

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many people were awarded postal status due to hardship incurred by travel expenses to sign on at the nearest job centre in the last five years, broken down by region. - Inc text of letter from chief executive of the Employment Service. (Holding answer 26 March 2001).
Answer

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people were awarded postal status due to hardship incurred by travel expenses to sign on at the nearest job centre in the last five years, broken down by region. [155094] Ms Jowell: [holding answer 26 March 2001]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Clare Dodgson to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 28 March 2001: As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question about the number of people awarded postal status due to hardship incurred in attending Jobcentres. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying as Chief Operating Officer for the Employment Service. I am afraid it is not possible to provide a count of the number of people being awarded postal status due to hardship incurred by travel expenses to sign on at the nearest Jobcentre. People are required to attend the Jobcentre each fortnight as part of maintaining their claim for Jobseeker's Allowance. However, depending on circumstances, some people are allowed to maintain their claim by post--those who would have to spend an unreasonable amount of time travelling to the Jobcentre, and those who have a mental or physical disability which restricts their mobility. Postal status is not usually awarded on the basis of costs incurred for attending the Jobcentre. However, Jobcentre Managers do have some discretion in offering this facility if someone's journey would involve the use of a form of transport which they could not be expected to use on a regular basis, for example, a ferry. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
155094; 365 c677W;365 c677-8W
Session
2000-01
Subjects
Costs Postal services Travel Unemployment Unemployed people
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk