Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of job centres on economic growth in Stafford.

Supporting everyone to find good, meaningful work and helping them to progress is vital for economic growth. Stafford Jobcentre works in partnership with local employers, the NHS, colleges and the voluntary sector on initiatives that support people to get into and on at work.

Through our plans to create a new jobs and careers service we will transform our ability to support people into work, help those on low pay to increase their earnings, and create a more flexible workforce for a fast changing, higher skilled jobs market. This transformation is expected to contribute significantly to economic growth by addressing local skills gaps and providing tailored support to meet the needs of local labour markets.

We are currently considering our evaluation strategy to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the new jobs and careers service. This includes funding in 2025/26 to take forward the first steps of building the new service through a pathfinder, as set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper.