---

Dept for Work and Pensions;Jobcentre Plus

Answer

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to increase the number of services available to people from Jobcentre Plus offices. [194500] Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend. Letter from David Anderson to David Taylor, dated 15 November 2004: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of services available to people from Jobcentre Plus offices. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. Jobcentre Plus is continuously modernising and improving the services it provides to its customers. In the course of a four year programme, social security offices and Jobcentres are being replaced by Jobcentre Plus offices in which customers can make enquiries about their benefits and job opportunities in one place. The programme has currently rolled out a total of 537 sites, which is over half the eventual total. In terms of office design and customer service, our emphasis has been on reducing waiting times and eliminating referrals between offices. New measures include increased telephone contact facilities, a new appointments system and nominated Personal Advisers offering advice and support on job readiness and benefit matters. As part of our modernisation programme, we are reinvesting in front line, customer facing services. We are also providing improved customer access through telephone contact centres and the Internet. The staff at telephone contact centres are able to take applications for benefit over the telephone and deal with customer enquiries. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1199-200W;426 c1203-4W; 194500

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Applications Jobcentres Jobcentre Plus Social security benefits Standards

Link

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