Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on rolling out the reformed welfare contract being piloted at Birkenhead Jobcentre Plus.

This initiative brings together information from energy suppliers and is aimed at helping those who are vulnerable or facing difficulties in meeting energy costs.

Birkenhead Jobcentre continues to offer the information leaflet, which details available support to claimants at appropriate stages of their benefit claim, when they meet with their Work Coach. The leaflet is also on display and available at various points within the Jobcentre. The information is made available to claimants across the full range of unemployment related benefits including Universal Credit.

We are not able to confirm precise numbers of leaflets offered and taken up; nor on numbers of claimants availing themselves of the support. We can say, however, that claimants give positive feedback to staff.

Following this successful trial the leaflet will be distributed across the wider Jobcentre Plus network.