Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report 2003
Foreword from the Secretary of State
The Department for Work and Pensions exists to provide greater security for those who need it and to enable people to fulfil their aspirations and see reward for their efforts to work and save. The Department is implementing radical policies and a huge delivery agenda through the commitment, effort and skill of all our employees. We play a central role in the Government's overall aim of building an inclusive society by tackling child and pensioner poverty.
It's been a busy year and we've embarked on a massive programme of change, essential to enable us to deliver a 21st-century service that meets the needs of our customers and clients. As their needs change, so we must adapt to meet them.
Years of under-investment had left our IT outdated and unable to provide the service our customers have a right to expect. That's why we needed to modernise and that's why it's important we get it right now for the future.
Change is never easy and we've worked hard over the last year to turn these objectives into a reality. We have seen good progress across all areas of the Department and can all be proud of this, for example:
- Record levels of employment, and 257 Jobcentre Plus offices opened and providing work-focused interviews for all applicants for benefit.
- Continued progress in the fight against child poverty, with over 1.6 million fewer children living in absolute poverty than in 1997 and many benefiting from targeted initiatives such as Sure Start.
- Increased support for families, with better and more accessible childcare provision and policies which make work pay.
- Taking the next steps on Incapacity Benefit reform to give help to those with the clear potential to get back to work, matched by action to improve disability rights.
- Publishing the Pensions Green Paper and undertaking the largest ever consultation on the future of private and occupational pensions in this country.
- A radical reform of Housing Benefit to make it simpler to claim and ensure that work pays.
- Maintaining good progress in reducing the levels of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, with the latest published figures showing a 24 per cent reduction.
Of course there is still more to do and the year ahead will prove to be every bit as challenging as the last. It will see the move to direct payment of benefits, the introduction of Pension Credit and the new tax credits, publication of the draft Disability Bill and work to take forward the Pensions Green Paper proposals. On top of this we will be continuing to roll out Jobcentre Plus, bearing down on fraud and error, developing The Pension Service, and implementing the Child Support Reforms.
It's a challenging agenda and I am confident that the Department is well placed to meet it, striving to provide a service both we and the public can be proud of.
The Right Honourable Andrew Smith MP
May 2003
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