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Jobcentre Plus: Compensation

Volume 506: debated on Monday 1 March 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many compensation payments Jobcentre Plus have made through their Special Payment Scheme in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) the Highlands and (d) Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey in each of the last three years; and how much was paid out in each area in each of those years.

[Official Report, 13 January 2010, Vol. 503, c. 1033W.]

Letter of correction from Mr. Jim Knight:

Errors have been identified in the reply given by the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 13 January 2010.

The correct answer should have been: (307149)

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Darra Singh:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many compensation payments Jobcentre Plus has made through their Special Payment Scheme in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) the Highlands and (d) Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey in each of the last three years; and how much was paid out in each area in each of those years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The Jobcentre Plus Special Payments Scheme is part of a wider scheme operated by the Department for Work and Pensions. Details are contained in the Financial Redress for Maladministration Guide, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

The data below provide the information you requested in relation to (a) Great Britain (DWP does not administrate payments in Northern Ireland), and (b) Scotland.

(a) The number of compensation payments made across the GB and how much was paid out.

GB special payments

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Compensation payments made

5,135

4,343

7,389

Amount paid (£)

1,778,407

1,664,092

2,489,442

(b) The number of compensation payments made across Scotland and how much was paid out.

Scotland special payments

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Compensation payments made

258

280

470

Amount paid (£)

94,063

58,134

168,510

I am not in a position to provide a response to Questions (c) & (d) as we do not hold data in that format.