Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Thursday, 1 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2001. It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Monday, 12 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, what the cost to the Employment Service has been of, and how many Employment Service staff have been attributable to, the administration of jobseeker's allowance. - Including text of letter from Mark Neale of Employment Service. (Holding answer 6 March 2001).

Answer: Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost to the Employment Service has been of, and how many Employment Service staff have been attributable to, the administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. [152450] Ms Jowell: [holding answer 6 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 Mark Neale to Mr. Graham Brady, dated 12 March 2001: As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question concerning the Employment Service cost of, and the number of staff attributable to the administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying on Mr Lewis behalf. The resource available to the Employment Service for the financial year 2000-2001 to administer Jobseeker's Allowance was £183m. This resource equated to approximately 10,600 staff in Jobcentres. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 152450; 364 c444W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Administration Costs Civil servants Jobseeker's allowance Staff Social security benefits
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk