To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the £38 million for Jobcentre Plus referred to in the 2008 National Carers Strategy intended to help carers to move into work has been spent by Jobcentre Plus to date; on what projects and programmes it has been spent; and whether the whole amount is ring-fenced for employment support for carers. (320935)

[holding answer 5 March 2010]: Work Focused Support for Carers was introduced in December 2009 and provides one to one adviser support, referral to appropriate training opportunities and financial help for carers not eligible for other programmes, aged 18 or over and not in full-time work. We estimate that up to 4,000 people a year will take part.

Jobcentre Plus has up to £38 million available for the 2008 National Carers Strategy. The funding is all for use on providing support to carer’s and is available to:

introduce a network of care partnership managers

provide training for care partnership managers and Jobcentre Plus advisers

introduce a job search tool to identify jobs that offer flexible working, and

fund replacement care from December 2009 for carers participating in approved training.

As at February 2010, Jobcentre Plus have invested £2 million to fund the recruitment and salaries of care partnership managers in each Jobcentre Plus district and the training of Jobcentre Plus advisers, nationally. The £2 million invested to the end of February 2010 is on budget and to schedule.

Of the funding set aside for replacement care from December 2009, it is too early to report expenditure at this stage.

Additionally, many carers already have access to separately funded employment programmes because of their other circumstances, for example, lone parents or partners of people claiming benefit.