Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work coaches there are in each jobcentre in which universal credit has been rolled out; how many claimants each work coach is responsible for; where those work coaches are based; and how many work coaches will be appointed in Preston when universal credit is rolled out in that parliamentary constituency.

Universal Credit is available to all new claims from single jobseekers across Great Britain and couples and families in some jobcentre areas. As at August 2017 there were around 12,500 work coaches across the jobcentre network and working across all benefits. The number of work coaches will change in line with demand and we expect there to be more in every nation and region by 2020.

The number of work coaches and the size of their caseload will vary as it is dependent on a number of factors, including the level of customer support required and the needs of the local labour market.

The digital service continues to develop iteratively, with claimants able to increasingly self-serve and interact digitally with their work coach and case manager.