Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the flexible arrangements available to lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance to enable them to search for work and meet their caring responsibilities are being applied appropriately.

Local Jobcentre Plus managers are responsible for making sure work coaches provide claimants with the support they need and for ensuring the flexibilities for those with caring responsibilities are deployed appropriately. This process is underpinned by work coach learning and development, procedural guidance and a Quality Assurance Framework that is used to help managers observe and provide feedback on interviews with claimants.