Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent guidance his Department has issued to Jobcentre Plus staff on how to advise clients on alternatives to warm phones for contacting Jobcentre Plus or applying for jobs by telephone.

Warm phones have in the past, been predominately used for dealing with benefit enquiries. Following the introduction of an assisted service for benefit enquiries and the removal of warm phones, we will provide controlled access to a telephone if a claimant needs to make a phone call to apply for a job.