Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will maintain the careers guidance service for all unemployed people receiving support as part of the new national Jobs and Careers Service.

We are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new Jobs and Careers Service across Great Britain that will transform our ability to support people into good, meaningful work, and to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers. This will be a universal service which all people – not just benefit recipients or those out of work – will be able to engage with.

In England, these reforms will include bringing together Jobcentre Plus with the National Careers Service. The new service will have an increased focus on supporting progression and good work through aligning employment support more closely with skills and careers advice. In Scotland and Wales, we will work closely with the Devolved Governments to ensure the new service works effectively with the devolved careers and skills services.

We are in the early stages of designing the new service, working closely with Department for Education and more details will be shared in due course.