Job advisers placed in food banks, Iain Duncan Smith reveals
Job advisers are set to be placed in food banks across the country, Iain Duncan Smith has told MPs.
The work and pensions secretary said he would like to see a trial scheme in Manchester rolled out nationwide after it was given “very strong feedback”.
The Trussell Trust, which operates food banks, says the facilities were used more than one million times in 2014-15.
It welcomed closer co-operation but said talks were needed over the feasibility of the job adviser idea.
Speaking at a meeting of the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, Mr Duncan Smith said: “I am trialling at the moment a job adviser situating themselves in the food bank for the time that the food bank is open and we are already getting very strong feedback about that.”
The Trussell Trust said it applauded efforts to get food banks and Job Centres to work together.
“We welcome the government’s interest in exploring new ways that the DWP might help people at food banks who have hit crisis as a result of problems with welfare delivery,” it said.
“But we would also suggest that there first needs to be a dialogue between the DWP and The Trussell Trust network about the possible challenges and opportunities that hosting DWP advisers in foodbanks could afford.
“The Trussell Trust has had positive discussions with some MPs about whether piloting DWP advisers in their local food banks could be beneficial, but we have not yet had the opportunity for dialogue with Iain Duncan Smith or DWP advisers about the feasibility of rolling out this idea.”
If the trial was successful and other food banks are willing, he said he would like to roll it out across the UK.