The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the processing time for Crisis Loan applications was in each region in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The time it takes to process Crisis Loan applications is measured by counting the average length of time taken to clear all claims processed within a set time period. The measure is referred to as the Average Actual Clearance Time.
The expected service level for Crisis Loans in 2006/07 is two days, although applications for living expenses should be cleared, whenever possible, on the same day as the application is made.
The information in the table covers the last ten quarters. Data prior to quarter 2 in 2004 were not collated by Government Office Region.
2004 2005 2006 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 East Midlands 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.3 East of England 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 London 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 North East 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 North West 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 Scotland 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 South East 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.7 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.0 South West 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 Wales 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.7 2.0 1.4 West Midlands 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.7 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 National 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4
I hope this is helpful.