To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Draft Legislative Programme 2009, Cm 7564, page 37, who in Oxfordshire will be responsible for delivering the proposed programme for access to jobs supported by recruitment subsidies, skills training or volunteering opportunities for adults who have been unemployed for six months or more. (284959)

On 6 April 2009, the Department introduced an offer of extra support for customers who have been claiming jobseeker’s allowance for six months. This included access to recruitment subsidies, work-focused training and volunteering opportunities. Jobcentre Plus personal advisers discuss these options with customers at interview.

For the work-focused training element of the six-month offer, customers in Oxfordshire will be referred to Oxford and Cherwell Valley college or in some cases Newbury college if they reside in South Oxfordshire. These colleges have been contracted by the Learning and Skills Council for delivering this part of the six-month offer in Oxfordshire.

BTCV are the lead organisation responsible for delivering access to volunteering opportunities in England. In partnership with v, Volunteering England and Community Service Volunteers, they run a brokerage network offering work-focused volunteering opportunities to eligible jobseekers.

Jobcentre Plus is responsible for the delivery of the recruitment subsidy throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The recruitment subsidy is available through two delivery channels: it can either be issued as a voucher to individual jobseeker’s allowance customers by their Jobcentre Plus personal adviser, or multiple vouchers can be delivered to employers with higher volume or long-term recruitment plans who are working with Jobcentre Plus account managers.