In September 2025, the Department wrote to us again and acknowledged that it did not hold quantitative evidence on the impact of changing the length of the first meeting claimants have with a work coach. It said that, as this measure was part of the local flexibility framework, many jobcentres were familiar with the policy and feedback from frontline staff who had previously used the framework suggested that customers could be adequately supported within the reduced timeframe.18 We note, howe...

In September 2025, the Department wrote to us again and acknowledged that it did not hold quantitative evidence on the impact of changing the length of the first meeting claimants have with a work coach. It said that, as this measure was part of the local flexibility framework, many jobcentres were familiar with the policy and feedback from frontline staff who had previously used the framework suggested that customers could be adequately supported within the reduced timeframe.18 We note, however, that the Department has gathered no feedback on this approach from claimants themselves. Type: conclusion | Number: 11 | Response status: response_pending Government response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2027 2.2 All sites have now moved to a 30-minute initial claimant commitment meeting for new claimants, and the department recognises the importance of understanding the impact on the claimant experienc