To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that employees of LDV receive employment advice and support; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

This question has been passed to me as the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus are responsible for the action being taken to help people who are made redundant. The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Mel Groves:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking, what steps we are taking to ensure that employees of LDV receive employment advice and support. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

In response to LDV entering administration, we formed a Task Force in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency, the Learning and Skills Council and Unity, its regional redundancy response contractor.

From 8 June, Washwood Heath Jobcentre Plus set up a telephone hotline to take new claims appointments for all those workers being made redundant. These redundant workers attended LDV's premises on 11 and 12 June to meet with representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers together with Jobcentre Plus and partners to provide advice.

Claims for Jobseeker's Allowance from the LDV Workforce were taken at Washwood Heath Jobcentre Plus on 13 and 14 June. The Pension, Disability and Carers Service, HM Revenue and Customs and Birmingham City Council attended over the weekend at the Jobcentre to give advice on pensions, tax credits, Housing Benefit, financial management and debt issues.

The former LDV workers are being offered a tailored package of support to help them get back into work as quickly as possible. This includes help and advice with their jobsearch, CV writing, interview techniques, training and identified employment opportunities. This package of help and support will be available across the West Midlands region and will be delivered by a range of partner organisations including the union Unity. The support package for LDV workers is being co-ordinated from the Jobcentre Plus Office in Washwood Heath and all LDV workers will be offered .access to this help.