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Dept for Education and Employment;Employment Service

Answer

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will describe the procedure followed by the Employment Service for tracking claimants of jobseeker's allowance who are (a) unemployed for more than two years (i) in the 18 to 24 age group and (ii) aged over 25 years and (b) lone parents. [70740] Mr. Andrew Smith: Responsibility for the subject of this 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 Leigh Lewis to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 17 February 1999: As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the procedure for tracking claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. The procedure for monitoring claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance starts when they make their first claim. The jobseeker is seen by an adviser for a New Jobseeker Interview and is subsequently seen fortnightly until they cease claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. The progress in finding work for jobseekers who remain unemployed is reviewed with them after 13 weeks, after six months and every six months thereafter. For those young people aged between 18 and 24 the six month review triggers their entry on to the New Deal. I should explain that Lone Parents do not normally claim Jobseeker's Allowance, since they are normally entitled to Income Support. New Deal for Lone Parents is a voluntary programme and participants continue to claim Income Support whilst participating on it. The only Lone Parents who claim jobseeker's Allowance are therefore those who voluntarily join the New Deal for 18-24 year olds or for those aged over 25, and those who are willing to meet the Jobseeker's Allowance benefit conditions by making themselves available for and actively seeking work. All claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance are recorded by the Employment Service on its Labour Market Computer System. This is used to record their progress in line with the structure of fortnightly attendance and regular reviews. In addition, jobseekers who are on New Deal are tracked by their Personal Adviser throughout their time on the programme. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

326 c278W;326 c277-8W; 70740

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Applications Jobseeker's allowance Monitoring Lone parents Young people Unemployed people