Home / Sources / Select Committees / Public Accounts Committee / Jobcentres
Index live · Last sync 22 May 2026
Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Jobcentres

Status: Closed Opened: 26 Mar 2025 Closed: 22 Sep 2025 5 recommendations 26 conclusions 1 report

The Government plans to reform the system of employment support, including by merging Jobcentre Plus with the National Careers Service. There are over 600 Jobcentres across Great Britain, forming a network which is the Department for Work and Pension’s main mechanism for supporting Universal Credit (UC) claimants into work and increase their income. In October …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
36th Report - Jobcentres HC 823 2 Jul 2025 31 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
1 Conclusion 36th Report - Jobcentres Not Addressed

Committee took evidence from DWP on jobcentres following C&AG report.

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Work and Pensions (the Department) on jobcentres.1

Government response. The committee item is a factual statement about taking evidence from the DWP. The government responds by stating it takes its responsibilities seriously regarding work coaches and details letters sent to the committee, claiming the 'recommendation' is implemented, despite the …
HM Treasury
7 Conclusion 36th Report - Jobcentres Not Addressed

DWP consistently had fewer work coaches than estimated need across jobcentres.

For the first six months of 2024–25, the Department assessed it would need on average 18,900 work coaches but had funding for between 17,600 and 18,000.9 The Department told us it forecasts demand on a six-monthly cycle but plans resource over a longer timeframe – funding for 2024–25 was originally …

Government response. Despite an initial statement of agreement, the government's response discusses a Water Reform Bill and the establishment of a single water regulator, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's conclusion about work coach numbers and funding.
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
15 May 2025 Barbara Bennett · Department of Work and Pensions, Katherine Green · Department for Work and Pensions, Sir Peter Schofield KCB · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗

Correspondence

8 letters
DateDirectionTitle
20 Apr 2026 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions to …
15 Sep 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
10 Jul 2025 From cttee Letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions relat…
2 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
9 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
9 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from the Director General, Labour Market and Poverty at the Department f…
9 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions rel…
19 May 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions rel…