Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many telephones he expects to be available to claimants in Jobcentre Plus in each of the next five years; and what is the average number of telephones in each Jobcentre Plus.

As part of our Jobcentre modernisation programme we have replaced all Customer Access Phones with computers. Over 80 per cent of new Jobseeker’s Allowance claims are taken online and job search is predominantly internet based. Vulnerable claimants who require access to a phone in connection with their benefit or job search will still be given access to a telephone in a Jobcentre.