I agree that the role of Jobcentre Plus should be to help with that process, but I will write specifically to the noble Baroness. Perhaps she could exchange with me some of the detail that prompted her inquiry; I shall certainly take it up. I understand the sentiment behind the...

I agree that the role of Jobcentre Plus should be to help with that process, but I will write specifically to the noble Baroness. Perhaps she could exchange with me some of the detail that prompted her inquiry; I shall certainly take it up. I understand the sentiment behind the...

Indeed. I believe that that will be the case and if it is not—if the noble Lord would prompt me on it—I will make sure that he gets the detailed figures. Apart from new staff being recruited, 2,000 staff have been redeployed from within Jobcentre Plus to deal with the...

Indeed. I believe that that will be the case and if it is not—if the noble Lord would prompt me on it—I will make sure that he gets the detailed figures. Apart from new staff being recruited, 2,000 staff have been redeployed from within Jobcentre Plus to deal with the...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. I was thinking that a member of staff from a jobcentre could, for example, read the local paper. The information is available, but not necessarily to the client at the time when he wants it. The noble Baroness has made a valuable suggestion.

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. I was thinking that a member of staff from a jobcentre could, for example, read the local paper. The information is available, but not necessarily to the client at the time when he wants it. The noble Baroness has made a valuable suggestion.

Having listened to the Minister’s exposition of the position, I was only going to say that of course we all understand entirely what he said—but it might not necessarily be wholly comprehensible to the ordinary jobseeker. That seems very bad PR. If our advisers are trying to be jobseekers’ friends,...

Having listened to the Minister’s exposition of the position, I was only going to say that of course we all understand entirely what he said—but it might not necessarily be wholly comprehensible to the ordinary jobseeker. That seems very bad PR. If our advisers are trying to be jobseekers’ friends,...

I am grateful to my noble friend, as ever, for her explanation of her engagement in this at an earlier stage. In February 2004 the DWP published an independent evaluation of the community sentences on withdrawal-of-benefit pilots. The evaluation highlighted a small increase in the number of people who complied...

I am grateful to my noble friend, as ever, for her explanation of her engagement in this at an earlier stage. In February 2004 the DWP published an independent evaluation of the community sentences on withdrawal-of-benefit pilots. The evaluation highlighted a small increase in the number of people who complied...

The phrase "buckets of salt" comes to mind. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 24 withdrawn.

The phrase "buckets of salt" comes to mind. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 24 withdrawn.

Unlike with local housing allowance, there has been a fairly prompt evaluation of this pilot. I note that the Minister said that it did not appear to make much difference and, in any case, that it was not cost-effective. That is a very good reason for not pursuing it. We...

Unlike with local housing allowance, there has been a fairly prompt evaluation of this pilot. I note that the Minister said that it did not appear to make much difference and, in any case, that it was not cost-effective. That is a very good reason for not pursuing it. We...

I shall speak also to the other government amendments in this group. In 2001, the Government introduced a pilot scheme in four areas to apply a benefit sanction to those found to be in breach of their community orders. The pilot covers Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Teesside and the West Midlands and...

I shall speak also to the other government amendments in this group. In 2001, the Government introduced a pilot scheme in four areas to apply a benefit sanction to those found to be in breach of their community orders. The pilot covers Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Teesside and the West Midlands and...

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, on this amendment, which gives us the chance to discuss whether all Jobcentre Plus offices around the country will have enough high-quality trained staff properly to manage "work for your benefit" schemes. As the noble Lord said, the Minister has kindly provided us...

I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, on this amendment, which gives us the chance to discuss whether all Jobcentre Plus offices around the country will have enough high-quality trained staff properly to manage "work for your benefit" schemes. As the noble Lord said, the Minister has kindly provided us...

Amendment 26 26: Clause 1, page 4, line 16, at end insert— "( ) No provisions in this section shall come into effect unless the Secretary of State is satisfied with the readiness of job centres to manage "work for your benefit" schemes."

Amendment 26 26: Clause 1, page 4, line 16, at end insert— "( ) No provisions in this section shall come into effect unless the Secretary of State is satisfied with the readiness of job centres to manage "work for your benefit" schemes."

What I think the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood—I am putting words into his mouth now—and I would require is a timetable, not least a timetable between the decision to end the pilots and the finish of the independent evaluation, showing how long it took. As the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood,...

What I think the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood—I am putting words into his mouth now—and I would require is a timetable, not least a timetable between the decision to end the pilots and the finish of the independent evaluation, showing how long it took. As the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood,...

The noble Lord is quite right; my terminology was wrong. Clause 1 is indeed about welfare to work, which, as we all know, involves contractors and, as I think we all know, subcontractors. Someone is going to have to monitor all this. As the contractors in the pilots will be...

The noble Lord is quite right; my terminology was wrong. Clause 1 is indeed about welfare to work, which, as we all know, involves contractors and, as I think we all know, subcontractors. Someone is going to have to monitor all this. As the contractors in the pilots will be...

Rather like the Government never apologising for either inflation or, as we have now, deflation, I do not apologise for conflation. The whole point of what I was trying to say, and I was very ably backed by virtually all noble Lords—not quite all since the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis,...

Rather like the Government never apologising for either inflation or, as we have now, deflation, I do not apologise for conflation. The whole point of what I was trying to say, and I was very ably backed by virtually all noble Lords—not quite all since the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis,...

Can the noble Lord explain the word "moderately"?

Can the noble Lord explain the word "moderately"?

We have had two and a half days on Clause 1 and there are still questions to be asked, as both the noble Baroness, Lady Afshar, and the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, have pointed out. I have said I do not know how many times during those two and a...

We have had two and a half days on Clause 1 and there are still questions to be asked, as both the noble Baroness, Lady Afshar, and the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, have pointed out. I have said I do not know how many times during those two and a...

I thank the noble Lord for his suggestion. I suggest that pilots should also include densely populated minority areas, which still lack most facilities.

I thank the noble Lord for his suggestion. I suggest that pilots should also include densely populated minority areas, which still lack most facilities.

Of course, the centre of the DWP is not dysfunctional, which I accused the individual jobcentres of being. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 26 withdrawn.

Of course, the centre of the DWP is not dysfunctional, which I accused the individual jobcentres of being. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 26 withdrawn.

Cap that. I support the rationale behind the noble Baroness’s amendments; indeed, as the Committee will note, I have added my name to Amendment 42. They would ensure that the participant was given a fair and reasonable chance to prove himself to have good cause for failing to uphold his...

Cap that. I support the rationale behind the noble Baroness’s amendments; indeed, as the Committee will note, I have added my name to Amendment 42. They would ensure that the participant was given a fair and reasonable chance to prove himself to have good cause for failing to uphold his...

I need to check volumes and practicalities on this. I shall do that and revert to noble Lords specifically on that point. I am not sure about the percentage of people, unemployed or otherwise, who have access to a telephone. Perhaps I can get some data on that as well....

I need to check volumes and practicalities on this. I shall do that and revert to noble Lords specifically on that point. I am not sure about the percentage of people, unemployed or otherwise, who have access to a telephone. Perhaps I can get some data on that as well....