Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to attend interviews with claimants conducted by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State has attended several Jobcentreplus sites, where he has had the opportunity to observe and discuss a range of operational issues. He has not sat in on interviews with work coaches whilst they have conducted interviews with claimants, as standard practice is to seek agreement first with claimants for any third party to be in attendance. Future visits to Jobcentreplus are planned for the Secretary of State.