Written question asked by Lord Dykes (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 January 1997. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 January 1997 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: What plans he has to involve the private sector in helping lone parents into work.

Answer: Mr. Dykes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to involve the private sector in helping lone parents into work. [12206] Mr. Andrew Mitchell: Up to 100,000 lone parents on income support will be offered help to get back into work under the parent plus scheme, which will be piloted in 12 Benefits Agency districts over three years starting in April. Parent plus will involve both public and private sector teams in competing to find the best ways of helping lone parents to reduce their dependency on benefits. In four of the pilot areas the private sector will be invited to tender to provide innovative services to help get lone parents into work. The four areas will be selected from the following: North Hampshire Preston Wirral Wiltshire Blackburn Bradford Northamptonshire Buckinghamshire Central Manchester. Contracts will be issued to successful tenderers by the beginning of April and will stipulate that payment will be dependant on how many lone parents are helped into jobs. This will be the first time that private enterprise has been harnessed in this way to help people into work.

Secondary information