Written question asked by David Leslie Taylor (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 May 2004. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Monday, 17 May 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, what plans there are to review the success of work focused interviews for partners of incapacity benefit recipients in finding them employment.

Answer: David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to review the success of work focused interviews for partners of incapacity benefit recipients in finding them employment. [170195] Jane Kennedy: Work Focused Interviews for Partners (WFIP) were implemented on 12 April 2004. They will be fully evaluated along with the enhanced New Deal for Partners (NDP). WFIP and NDP are separate but complementary policy initiatives aimed at broadly the same client group (partners of those receiving jobseeker's allowance, incapacity benefit, income support, severe disablement allowance or carer's allowance). The evaluation will look at the effect of WFIP and NDP on individuals and households. It will provide us with information to improve the delivery of these initiatives, where necessary, and also to inform future policy decisions--including partners of incapacity benefit recipients. The first phase of the evaluation findings is expected to be published in summer 2005.

Secondary information