We have replaced our Customer Access Phones with a new assisted service for claimants who attend the Jobcentre and are unable to access DWP services without our help.

The level of support we provide to those claimants identified as having complex needs and/or requiring additional support to access our services has not changed.

To meet the Department’s duties under Equality Act 2010 we make suitable provision to communicate with claimants and customers who do not speak English or Welsh (for people residing in Wales), or who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. We have policy and procedures in place for staff to provide an interpreter for claimants and customers where there is a requirement to do so.

The Department has issued internal communications to staff on Interpreting Services and has embedded the policy and procedures into internal guidance. Staff use this guidance to know how to recognise when a customer or claimant is in need of an interpreter and how to make the appropriate arrangements.

A new web based reporting database was introduced in September 2011 enabling incidents to be reported immediately and more easily.

Violent incidents are recorded as Actual (Physical) Assault incidents. As such, the following Actual Assault incidents recorded each year since January 2011 were:

2011 - 392

2012 – 646

2013 – 628

2014 to September - 372

The following tables show the number of full-time and part-time employees in Motherwell Jobcentre, Bellshill Jobcentre, and Motherwell Pensions Centre at March 2012, March 2013 and March 2014.

Motherwell Jobcentre

Bellshill Jobcentre

Motherwell Pensions Centre

The following tables show the number of full-time and part-time employees in Motherwell Jobcentre, Bellshill Jobcentre, and Motherwell Pensions Centre at March 2012, March 2013 and March 2014.

Motherwell Jobcentre

Bellshill Jobcentre

Motherwell Pensions Centre

There are 14 Work Clubs being run from Jobcentre Plus offices. The role of Jobcentre Plus is to encourage partnership working to set up Work Clubs and to signpost claimants to them where they exist and where work coaches believe the support offered will help the claimant find work.

The Department keeps security arrangements under constant review, amending these in the light of prevailing circumstances, and taking account of advice from the relevant security authorities. Beyond this, for obvious reasons, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

The Digital Jobcentres project is modernising the Jobcentre digital infrastructure by delivering WiFi and Web Access Devices (WADs) across the Jobcentre network. From now until the end of October, we will be installing WiFi and new Web access devices (WADs) across the Jobcentre network. By the end of October, around 6,000 WADs will have been installed in Jobcentres across the UK.

· ABM = Activity Based Management System, FTE = Full Time Equivalent staff resource

· Includes all advisory activity conducted by the Disability Employment Adviser function regardless of client group or interview type. Figures do not include any Management, Operational Support or Business Support apportionment.

The table provided is a snapshot of the number of full time equivalent staff deployed in the disability employment adviser function. District Managers ensure these staff are deployed to meet local requirements.

DEA numbers increased in 2010 to support the implementation of the 'Work Choice' programme as the DEA was the main referral route way. The numbers continued to rise as the flow onto the programme increased. Once the demand slowed, DEA numbers were reduced accordingly. During this period, the Work Programme was also launched which provided dedicated specialist support for customers.

In addition the training for DWP mainstream advisers has been enhanced to better equip them to meet the requirements of customers with complex needs.

We recognise the value this role brings in working with claimants with a range of disabilities, and ill health conditions, as well as linking up with local provision of services. Future policy on how many disability employment advisers are employed is being considered as part of the future Disability and Health Employment Strategy.

The Disability and Health Employment Strategy published in December 2013 sets out our expectation that the work carried out by DEAs in Jobcentres will continue.

The Disability and Health Employment Strategy published in December 2013 sets out our expectation that the work carried out by DEAs in Jobcentres will continue.

The information is not available.

No claimants are required to sign up for zero hour contracts which require exclusivity.

A supervised job-search test bed in Wolverhampton ran from December 2013 to February 2014. The purpose of the test bed was to examine on a small scale which areas would be viable design options for the Supervised Job-search pilots to be introduced later this year.

In overall terms the success of the test bed confirmed that a protracted supervised job-search could be delivered with the long-term unemployed client group. As a result of what we learnt from Wolverhampton, we have incorporated several elements into the pilots design, including:

induction sessions, to set clear expectations and assess individuals' abilities;

basic IT training;

integrating group sessions and one-to-one support to retain claimants concentration and engagement; and

supporting participants to focus on tailored, quality job applications.

In return for receiving benefits we expect jobseekers to do everything they can to find work. This could include engaging with an employment support project. We expect districts to work in partnership with organisations that offer opportunities which will help improve a claimant’s employment prospects, but they are not legally obliged to gain their consent before issuing a Jobseeker’s Direction.

The Department has not made an estimate regarding the additional costs for claimants living in rural communities. Providing such an estimate would require the DWP to differentiate the costs to rural claimants from those elsewhere. This can be done only at disproportionate cost to the Department. However, the Department does have some flexibility to meet the needs of those living in rural areas: for example, postal signing can be offered and claimants attending interviews on days outside their normal day of attendance can have their travelling expenses reimbursed. Additionally, Work Coaches are also able to use the Flexible Support Fund and issue Travel Discount Cards to help claimants with travel expenses.

There have been no changes in the number of interpreters available at Middlesbrough Jobcentre (James Cook House, 79 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2BA) in the last 12 months.

The Digital Jobcentres project will modernise the Jobcentre digital infrastructure by delivering WiFi and Web Access Devices (WADs) across the Jobcentre network. From now until the end of October, we will be installing WiFi and new Web Access Devices (WADs) across the Jobcentre network.

The following 39 Jobcentres already have WiFi available for jobseekers to use:

London Bridge

Ashton under Lyme

Newport

Hammersmith

Rusholme

Rugby

Poole

Inverness

Newton Abbott

Wigan

Chester

Warrington

Swansea

Oldham

Motherwell

Harrogate

Abertillery

Bath

Bargoed

Caerphilly

Sutton

Ebbw Vale

Altrincham

Merthyr Tydfil

Hyde

Tredegar

Stalybridge

Wolverhampton

Stretford

Scarborough

Airdrie

Coventry

Erdington

Rotherham

Sheffield, Cavendish Court

Wakefield

Shotton

Blackwood

Derby

By the end of October 2014, the remaining offices in the Jobcentre network will have WiFi installed and available for jobseekers to use.

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is no target on benefit sanctions, that the advisers give benefit sanctions as a last resort, and that the

system has a full set of checks and balances. There is a mandatory reconsideration almost immediately of that decision, and then there is the opportunity to appeal. The purpose of a sanction is to help to remind the individual that this taxpayers’ money comes with an obligation to co-operate; to find work by seeking work.