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, dated 23 January 2007:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how much the Department has spent on training Jobcentre Plus personal advisers to carry out the Better Off Calculations; how many hours of training are required before a personal adviser may carry out a Better Off Calculation and how many personal advisers have been so trained. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Information about the amount spent on training Personal Advisers to carry out Better Off Calculations or about the number of Personal Advisers who have been so trained is not routinely collected and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Specific training on completing Better Off Calculations is presented in a nine-hour facilitated training event and forms part of an extensive range of learning to equip Personal Advisers to use the Better Off Calculator effectively.
All Personal Advisers undertake comprehensive training that includes, for example, skills for gaining customer commitment, helping customers into work, advising about benefits and tax credits, and dealing with tax credits within a better off calculation.
I hope this is helpful.