Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the skills level of jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged between (a) 18 and 21 and (b) 22 and 24 years.

Esther McVey

All jobseeker’s are assessed at the beginning of their claim to Jobseeker’s Allowance for potential skills needs that are a barrier to them finding work. Where a skills need is identified, claimants are referred to courses.

This Government is committed to ensuring jobseekers have the skills they need to get into work. In 2012/13 171,100 young people aged 19-24 and claiming benefit started a learning course, an increase of 30% over 2011/12.