Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many branches of Jobcentre Plus employed at least one full-time equivalent (a) disability employment adviser and (b) income support adviser in each of the last five years.

We are committed to doing all we can to ensure all those who can work into employment, including claimants of all backgrounds, lone parents and disabled people.

As part of our continuous improvement, we are rolling out the use of Work Coaches across Jobcentre Plus who are trained in all areas. This means that a claimant remains with the same adviser (Work Coach) regardless of their journey within the benefit system. As a result, the need for some specific advisers is reducing.

The number of Jobcentre Plus branches employing at least one full-time equivalent Disability Employment Adviser and Income Support Adviser in each of the last five years is in the table below.

1. The numbers for 2015/16 are for the period April to September 2015.
2. Source of management information: DWP Work Services Activity Based Management Tool.
3. The management information contained within this document does not form part of any official statistics and is intended for DWP internal use only.