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 20 February 2008:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the impact on Jobcentre Plus staff resources of the introduction of (a) Employment and Support Allowance and (b) the Jobseeker's Allowance regime for lone parents whose youngest child is 12 years of age. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The resource requirements for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) have been assessed in order to inform post filling and learning and development plans. Based on this assessment of the net effect of replacing existing processes with ESA processes, there will be no need for an increase in staff resource. Following implementation the impact on resource will be evaluated further.
The introduction of the Jobseeker's Allowance regime for lone parents whose youngest child is 12 will involve some very minor changes in the total resource required to deal with this group. These will be taken into account, alongside other business changes, in the overall resource planning for 2008/09.
I hope this is helpful.