Written question asked by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 28 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 December 2011. It was answered by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Thursday, 1 December 2011 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Work Programme

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a risk assessment of the failure or withdrawal of a Work programme prime provider; and if he will place a copy of the outcomes of any such assessment in the Library.

Answer: All providers were required to demonstrate that they had the capacity to deliver the Work programme at the bidding stage. In addition, there are various mechanisms in place enabling the Department to be forewarned about the potential failure or withdrawal of providers, allowing the Department to put contingency arrangements in place before service delivery is affected. Individual provider assessments include commercially sensitive information that the Department cannot publish.

Secondary information