(2) how many outstanding jobseeker’s allowance claims there were at each benefit delivery centre in each month of the last two years.
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Mel Groves:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking: what the average clearing time for income support applications and jobseeker’s allowance applications was at each benefit delivery centre and in the UK in each month of the last two years; and how many outstanding jobseeker’s allowance claims there were at each benefit delivery centre in each month of the last two years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The Jobcentre Plus target for the Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) for Income Support (IS) and Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in the last two years is set out below. For IS the processing time commences when the customer has provided all the evidence required in order to process the claim. For JSA the time commences from the date the customer makes initial contact with Jobcentre Plus.
IS JSA 2007/08 11 12 2008/09 10 11.5
The information has been placed in the Library. This shows the actual achievement of the AACT for IS and JSA by Benefit Delivery Centre (BDC) and the volume of outstanding claims at each BDC for each month in the last two years.
The available information is in the following table.
Phase one Flexible New Deal contract areas 0-26 weeks Over 26 to 52 weeks Over 52 weeks Cambridgeshire and Suffolk 16,905 3,395 1,790 Norfolk 10,210 2,325 1,355 Derbyshire 14,080 3,220 1,425 Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 22,070 4,915 2,495 Lincolnshire and Rutland 8,445 1,805 810 Nottinghamshire 13,575 3,740 2,360 Central London 8,950 3,345 2,465 Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth 11,230 4,020 3,025 Greater Manchester Central 14,385 4,075 1,900 Greater Manchester East and West 25,685 6,465 3,070 Tees Valley 11,460 3,485 2,860 Kent 19,430 4,055 1,855 Surrey and Sussex 24,040 4,770 2,835 Devon and Cornwall 19,140 3,270 1,465 Birmingham and Solihull 21,965 8,800 8,995 Black Country 21,555 7,000 3,525 Coventry and Warwickshire 11,890 2,760 1,410 Marches 15,420 2,500 1,140 Staffordshire 16,040 2,980 1,190 North and Mid Wales 9,690 2,095 1,610 South East Wales 11,315 2,590 1,135 South Wales Valleys 12,090 2,975 1,875 South West Wales 9,665 1,900 635 North and East Yorkshire and the Humber 23,925 6,045 2,840 South Yorkshire 20,800 5,425 2,810 Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde 9,105 2,655 1,355 Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders 10,970 2,145 1,035 Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire 10,390 2,370 930 Notes: 1. Data are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Data are published at https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp Source: 100 percent Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems