Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the recruitment targets set out in her Department's paper Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability, what progress she has made on recruiting (a) Community Partners and (b) Disability Employment Advisers.

The Department is committed to recruiting around 200 Community Partners and is actively doing so. There are Community Partners in place in every Jobcentre Plus District. 116 Community Partners are currently in post and 38 others have accepted offers of employment. For all remaining posts recruitment is ongoing.

Disability Employment Advisors have also been recruited across the Jobcentre Plus network. As at February 2018, there are 470 full time equivalent DEAs with an actual headcount above 500 when taking account of part time and dual role workers.