Mrs Humble, MP for Blackpool North & Fleetwood, said:

“I was pleased to hear how strongly the Minister values the funding of Jobcentre Plus. She pointed out how staff at these centres are coping with a huge increase in appointments, yet still returning 60% of people to work within three months, whereas in the last recession only 45% of people found employment.

“I share her praise for the skill and dedication of Jobcentre Plus staff in very challenging conditions. I am pleased that the Government remains committed to the funding that allows this important service to continue, whereas the Opposition can only promise cuts.”

Mrs. Joan Humble (Blackpool, North and Fleetwood) : Will the Chancellor liaise with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ensure that the hard-working staff at our Jobcentre Plus offices, who are delivering real support to people who are becoming unemployed, have the resources made available to enable them to continue to do the job that is needed and to work as hard as they are doing?

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Angela Eagle): I support what my hon. Friend says and offer my congratulations on the superb work that Jobcentre Plus staff are doing. They not only have, unfortunately, a higher number of inquiries to deal with, but are getting their average time in dealing with them down and managing to ensure that more people return to the labour market faster. The rate of getting people back into jobs in the current recession is 60 per cent. after three months, whereas in the last recession, when Jobcentre Plus was not properly funded, it was 45 per cent. Jobcentre Plus staff are doing a magnificent job, and we are relying on them to get people back into work as quickly as possible. We will provide them with the resources to do that; the Conservatives voted against it.