Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to prohibit the issuing of Jobseeker's Directions for the creation of email accounts by claimants in areas with low broadband uptake.

The existing policy already takes account of the individual circumstances for each Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant when deciding if it is reasonable to issue a Jobseeker’s Direction. Before issuing a Jobseeker’s Direction we consider if the claimant has the skills and means to undertake the activity including whether they have access to the internet or not.

To demonstrate positive behaviours towards finding employment all Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants are asked to undertake a series of activities from the onset of their claim. This includes the expectation that all claimants will create an email account to be used for employment purposes. For the majority of claimants creating an email account will be an important part of improving their employment prospects, however we recognise for some claimants it may not be reasonable to expect this to happen.

To support claimants in areas with a low broadband uptake to use online channels, customer computers are available in Jobcentreplus offices and claimants may be signposted to local partners who also provide internet access.