Minister correspondence in relation to jobseeker sanctions (FOI)

​Request

During the meeting of the States Assembly held on 3 February 2015, a question was answered by Deputy Susan Jane Pinel, Minister for Social Security, about the number of jobseeker sanctions that had been imposed by the Department for each quarter since the States adopted proposition P.101/2013 in October 2013.

According to the official Hansard transcript (paragraphs 4.2.2 to 4.2.3), Deputy Judith Ann Martin (St. Helier No.1), referring to a third or subsequent breach of a warning, asked the Minister for Social Security for a breakdown of the 106 claims where all income support to the household had ceased, in the following terms: "Could she break that down later for the Assembly and let us know how many of these are families with children and have six weeks no money and no rent paid?”. Deputy Pinel replied to Deputy Martin in the following terms (extract): “Yes, of course I can fund the Deputy with some more figures.”

A.

As a consequence of the conversation quoted above between Deputy Martin and Deputy Pinel in the States Assembly on 3 February 2015, please supply the following information:

(i) Copies of all correspondence (whether sent by email, letter or other means) between Deputy Judith Ann Martin and Deputy Susan Jane Pinel (Minister for Social Security) that took place between 3rd February 2015 and 30th June 2015, where the subject of this correspondence related to the Department’s jobseeker sanctions policy, including any comments made by Deputy Martin in response to proposals by the Minister to make amendments to that policy;
(ii) Copies of any correspondence on the same subject and during the same period of time between Deputy Judith Ann Martin and Deputy Graham John Truscott (Assistant Minister for Social Security);
(iii) Copies of any correspondence on the same subject and during the same period of time between Deputy Judith Ann Martin and any member of staff at the Social Security Department.

B.

Confirm whether or not any email correspondence that may have taken place between these named parties via their personal email accounts (as opposed to via their official gov.je email accounts) has been taken into consideration for the purpose of satisfying this Freedom of Information request or whether such information is deemed to be exempt from the provisions of the legislation. Confirm the same in respect of any SMS text messages which may have been sent by mobile phone between these named parties.

Response

(Ai and Aiii)

As a consequence of the conversation quoted above between Deputy Judith Ann Martin and Deputy Susan Jane Pinel (Minister for Social Security) in the States Assembly on 3 February 2015 there was no correspondence by email, letter or other means between these parties that took place during the period 3 February 2015 and 30 June 2015 where the subject of this correspondence related to the Department’s jobseeker sanctions policy.

However on 15 October 2015 Deputy Judith Ann Martin sent an email to Deputy Susan Jane Pinel (Minister for Social Security) and a Social Security departmental officer requesting relevant information. Therefore the following email dialogue has been included in this response as it falls within the scope of the request and will assist in answering the questions.

Note that Social Security departmental officer name/s and job title have been redacted from the correspondence provided.

Download correspondence in relation to jobseeker sanctions (size 255kb)

Aii

There is no correspondence, regarding this matter, between Deputy Judith Martin and Deputy Graham Truscott (Assistant Minister for Social Security).

B.

There is no email correspondence, regarding this matter, that has taken place between these named parties via their personal email accounts (as opposed to via their official gov.je email) or via SMS text messages sent by mobile phone.

Exemption(s)

FOI exemption(s) applied:

Article 25 Personal Information

Social Security departmental officer name / s and job title have been redacted from the correspondence provided.