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Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her most recent estimate is of the number of permanent Jobcentre Plus staff who (a) are classified as without a permanent post and (b) have been classified as without a permanent post for more than 12 months. (271958)

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 right hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Mel Groves:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking for a recent estimate of the number of permanent Jobcentre Plus staff who a) are classified as without a permanent post and b) have been classified as without a permanent post for more than 12 months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

In Jobcentre Plus, anyone who is formally recognised as not having a sustainable posting is classified as surplus. This provides such individuals with priority status when seeking a permanent post in Jobcentre Plus or elsewhere in Whitehall. As at April 2009, there were 155 surplus staff in Jobcentre Plus. Of that number, 81 people have been surplus for more than 12 months.

Naturally, in a large customer service organisation structural change is often required in order to meet changing customer needs. Of the 155 cases we are reporting, 125 are Band As. The Band A position was subject to structural change in parts of the Jobcentre Plus operation during 2007/08 and resulted in 550 Band As being declared surplus. We have been successful in reducing that number to the current level. Surplus staff are actively engaged in delivering a range of Jobcentre Plus projects and duties while seeking a new permanent position.

Line managers are responsible for supporting individuals who are declared surplus. We manage such impacts of workforce reductions on our people, through a framework agreed with our Trade Unions and these are operated within a set of Cabinet Office protocols that apply across the Civil Service. These require us to take all reasonable steps to minimise compulsory redundancies. To date no members of staff have been made redundant against their will.