Annex A

Annex A

Dear Matt Raven,

Thank you for your request for information which asked

us to supply: 1) The cost of setting up the Job Search functionality on the Jobcentre Plus website 2) Annual maintenance costs for this section of the website 3) Either i) Whether any reduction or repayment has been secured based on the fact that the search function does not perform correctly.; or ii) If in fact the search is intended to perform in such a manner (ignoring specified distances etc) copies of the minutes of meetings or consultations that led to this odd decision.

We apologise for the late reply to your request but we did ensure that we comprehensively searched for all relevant sources of information before releasing our reply.

Response

The job search is part of a combined service that provides job search functionality across a number of DWP platforms, including the Jobcentre Plus website; the Directgov website; Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices as well as other locations, such as libraries and supermarkets; DWP internal databases and other DWP systems. The set up costs form part of wider IT development contracts, so it is not possible to separate out the costs for setting up the specific functionality on the website. Similarly the annual maintenance costs are part of a wider hosting and support contract, and again it is not possible for us to extract the cost for the job search on the website.

A reduction or repayment has not been secured because the search function performs as originally specified. The decision to override the location request was taken by the Employment Service before they joined DWP in 2005 and consequently copies of minutes of meetings are no longer available.

However, the Jobs and Skills service on Directgov does allow job vacancies to be searched via location, and when the Jobcentre Plus website closes in March 2010; this will be the primary online search function.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, 2^nd Floor The Adelphi, 1-11, John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner's Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Our Ref: 1609

DATE: 18 .9.2009