Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 7 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 June 2004. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 June 2004 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mobile job centres have been established; in which areas they have operated; how many people have been obliged to attend work-focused interviews as a result; and how many people have found work as a result. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mobile job centres have been established; in which areas they have operated; how many people have been obliged to attend work-focused interviews as a result; and how many people have found work as a result. [177900] Jane Kennedy: We have established no mobile job centres. We do however acknowledge the need to reach out to the communities that we serve. We do have mobile information services that go into the community to provide information and advice. They do not carry out work-focused interviews. For example an Ethnic Minority Outreach service provider in North London uses a mobile bus service to meet customers on their doorsteps, bringing access to a range of job and training opportunities. Action Teams make use of mobile units to reach jobless residents who would not normally register with Jobcentre Plus services. The St. Helens Action Team, for example, reached out to 46 eligible customers with their mobile units in May 2004, placing 27 of them into work.

Secondary information