Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to (a) promote awareness of the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card among jobseekers and (b) encourage travel companies to promote the scheme as widely as possible.

Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card: Jobcentre Plus has administered the current scheme on behalf of Rail Delivery Group (formerly Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) since 2011 in England and 2012 in Scotland.

a) The card is currently issued at work coach discretion subject to current eligibility and is valid for up to 3 months. The Work Coach (WC) is responsible for ensuring that all eligible claimants are aware of the travel discount scheme in England, Wales and Scotland.

Departmental Instructions are available to all work coaches and regular reminders are issued to all Jobcentres to encourage use of the scheme. .

b) The Rail Delivery Group promotes the Travel Discount Card Scheme via their own individual Company websites. DWP encourages all Transport Companies to promote the scheme and works with them to ensure that all eligible claimants can take advantage of discounts on offer to support them into work.