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| Jobcentre boss denies use of targets for applying sanctions to jobseekers | Jobcentre boss denies use of targets for applying sanctions to jobseekers |
| (6 months later) | |
| The head of the jobcentre programme, Neil Couling, has dismissed Guardian reports of the use of targets and league tables to sanction jobseeker claimants, saying that although he has launched an investigation into the case, his "hunch is this is an isolated incident and not something that is widespread". | The head of the jobcentre programme, Neil Couling, has dismissed Guardian reports of the use of targets and league tables to sanction jobseeker claimants, saying that although he has launched an investigation into the case, his "hunch is this is an isolated incident and not something that is widespread". |
| In a letter received by many jobcentre staff on Monday, he says: "We have said it many times before, there are no national targets for applying sanctions and individual targets should not appear in performance agreements." | In a letter received by many jobcentre staff on Monday, he says: "We have said it many times before, there are no national targets for applying sanctions and individual targets should not appear in performance agreements." |
| Discussions are under way between Labour and the coalition about the details of a proposed independent inquiry into the use of sanctions. The issue is likely to be debated in the Lords later on Monday. | Discussions are under way between Labour and the coalition about the details of a proposed independent inquiry into the use of sanctions. The issue is likely to be debated in the Lords later on Monday. |
| Couling in his letter says: "We do keep management information on the numbers of referrals but that is to monitor for anomalies, for example it might highlight where there are higher numbers of sanctions than one might expect. They are not league tables." He defends the tougher conditionality regime introduced in September including greater requirements to provide regular evidence of efforts to seek work. | Couling in his letter says: "We do keep management information on the numbers of referrals but that is to monitor for anomalies, for example it might highlight where there are higher numbers of sanctions than one might expect. They are not league tables." He defends the tougher conditionality regime introduced in September including greater requirements to provide regular evidence of efforts to seek work. |
| He states: "Sanctions and conditionality are important tools for advisers in helping people back to work. The international and national evidence shows they play an important role in making the system work effectively and people return to work more quickly and spend less time on benefits where public employment systems make use of sanctions. | He states: "Sanctions and conditionality are important tools for advisers in helping people back to work. The international and national evidence shows they play an important role in making the system work effectively and people return to work more quickly and spend less time on benefits where public employment systems make use of sanctions. |
| "Where sanctions are appropriate they should, without hesitation, be used. So if you are an adviser you should not be surprised if, from time to time, your manager does challenge you about whether you are applying the sanctions regime appropriately. That is right and proper and that will continue. This challenge though does not constitute a target, nor is it evidence of one." | "Where sanctions are appropriate they should, without hesitation, be used. So if you are an adviser you should not be surprised if, from time to time, your manager does challenge you about whether you are applying the sanctions regime appropriately. That is right and proper and that will continue. This challenge though does not constitute a target, nor is it evidence of one." |
| He concludes by saying: "Whilst sanctions in some form or other have been part of the system of unemployment benefits since 1911 we should not be surprised if there is considerable political and public scrutiny of us here. I intend to defend robustly you, and our appropriate use of sanctions going forward." | He concludes by saying: "Whilst sanctions in some form or other have been part of the system of unemployment benefits since 1911 we should not be surprised if there is considerable political and public scrutiny of us here. I intend to defend robustly you, and our appropriate use of sanctions going forward." |
| Numerous jobcentre staff have contacted the Guardian since last Friday's story on targets for sanctions to claim such targets are part of the jobcentre culture. | Numerous jobcentre staff have contacted the Guardian since last Friday's story on targets for sanctions to claim such targets are part of the jobcentre culture. |
| There may be a dispute about definitions that is fuelling the disjuncture about what is being said at national level, and what is reported at local level. | There may be a dispute about definitions that is fuelling the disjuncture about what is being said at national level, and what is reported at local level. |
| Couling told the Commons' public accounts committee (PAC) last week: "We do track sanctions. We are quite keen to avoid any misunderstandings that there are targets attached to these." | Couling told the Commons' public accounts committee (PAC) last week: "We do track sanctions. We are quite keen to avoid any misunderstandings that there are targets attached to these." |
| The Department for Work and Pensions permanent secretary, Robert Devereaux, also told the committee: "Imagine you are the manager in a particular office and you can see that many of your advisers are sanctioning at a particular rate and by and large it is 5%, 8% or something like that, and Fred in the corner is doing 2%. | The Department for Work and Pensions permanent secretary, Robert Devereaux, also told the committee: "Imagine you are the manager in a particular office and you can see that many of your advisers are sanctioning at a particular rate and by and large it is 5%, 8% or something like that, and Fred in the corner is doing 2%. |
| "What you are down to is managers making judgments, but one of the things they would look at – this seems to me perfectly reasonable – is do you think it is easy to do a sanction? It is much easier to just let it wash. People must put themselves into a difficult place on the part of society to do a sanction, so all the manager is trying to do when looking at the rates at which people are sanctioned is to try to think whether that sounds reasonable." Couling also said he did have management information on which offices did the most sanctions. | "What you are down to is managers making judgments, but one of the things they would look at – this seems to me perfectly reasonable – is do you think it is easy to do a sanction? It is much easier to just let it wash. People must put themselves into a difficult place on the part of society to do a sanction, so all the manager is trying to do when looking at the rates at which people are sanctioned is to try to think whether that sounds reasonable." Couling also said he did have management information on which offices did the most sanctions. |
| But he said he did not use this information "to go round to other offices and say they should be at this level, or that". Asked by the committee chair, Margaret Hodge, what he did use it for, Couling replied: "I do it mostly because people ask parliamentary questions about it, and if I don't have it I am told it is terrible that I don't have it. What I want to try to get across to people is that there is no right level." | But he said he did not use this information "to go round to other offices and say they should be at this level, or that". Asked by the committee chair, Margaret Hodge, what he did use it for, Couling replied: "I do it mostly because people ask parliamentary questions about it, and if I don't have it I am told it is terrible that I don't have it. What I want to try to get across to people is that there is no right level." |
| • This article was amended on 25 March 2013. The original version wrongly gave Neil Couling's name as Rob Couling. | • This article was amended on 25 March 2013. The original version wrongly gave Neil Couling's name as Rob Couling. |
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