(2) how much was (a) budgeted and (b) spent in each (i) region and (ii) Jobcentre Plus district on (A) Foundation Learning Routeway, (B) Managers who Deliver—Leaders who Inspire and (C) the Professional Skills for Government framework (1) in each year since the schemes were launched and (2) in each of the last 24 months.
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:
how many members of Jobcentre Plus staff in each (a) region and (b) Jobcentre Plus district participated in (i) Foundation Learning Routeway (ii) Managers who Deliver—Leaders who Inspire and (iii) the Professional Skills for Government framework (A) in each year since the schemes were launched and (B) in each of the last 24 months.
how much was (a) budgeted and (b) spent in each (i) region and (ii) Jobcentre Plus district on (A) Foundation Learning Routeway, (B) Managers who Deliver—Leaders who Inspire and (C) the Professional Skills for Government framework (1) in each year since the schemes were launched and (2) in each of the last 24 months.
This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The new foundation learning materials consist of 14 learning and development products. The suite of products includes elements of mandatory and non mandatory learning and development materials, depending on an individual’s job role. Line Managers in consultation with an individual will agree a pathway of foundation learning targeted at addressing their job role requirements.
In April 2008, the foundation learning was reviewed and revised and therefore any historical information would not accurately reflect the number of individuals who undertook foundation learning over the last 24 months. Our systems are not set up to capture this type of management information, and it would need to be compiled clerically, which would incur disproportionate cost.
The Jobcentre Plus management and leadership development programme (called “Managers who deliver—Leaders who inspire”) is a relatively new programme that was piloted in September 2007 and rolled out nationally from early 2008. It was designed to incorporate the skills required by the Professional Skills for Government (PSG) framework so the two are inextricably linked. There is no separate learning intervention on the PSG framework itself in relation to the middle managers covered by this development programme, however PSG is a framework that is integrated into the appraisal and development planning for such managers.
The available information regarding “Managers who deliver—Leaders who inspire” is attached at Annex 1. The volumes and costs data is broken down by region and operational arm, rather than just by Customer Service Directorate region and district as requested. This is because the Benefit and Fraud and Contact Centre Directorates do not have the same district based organisational structure. Information on how much was budgeted for this training is only collated at national level.
Annex 1
Regions Contact Centre Direct Benefit Fraud Directorate Other Directorates East of England 31 12 8 East Midlands 28 10 1 London 73 26 1 North East 22 31 3 North West 38 32 10 Scotland 42 13 3 South East 49 26 3 South West 38 22 3 Wales 33 14 4 West Midlands 58 11 2 Yorkshire and Humber 26 6 15 Total 438 203 53
£ Customer Service Directorate Benefit Fraud Directorate Other Directorates East of England 87,400 29,600 1,800 East Midlands 76,700 26,600 16,100 London 192,300 69,200 1,800 North East 49,800 74,500 8,900 North West 105,100 78,400 12,400 Scotland 118,100 38,900 8,800 South East 168,100 72,500 7,100 South West 94,200 59,100 8,900 Wales 90,900 33,700 3,600 West Midlands 168,400 28,500 37,200 Yorkshire and Humber 69,600 44,200 7,100 Total 1,220,600 552,500 113,700