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Workstep (Blackpool)

I agree absolutely with my hon. Friend on those points. Sadly, I am afraid that the way in which Mr. Pullan and Councillor Henderson have proceeded has caused these sorts of problems. The Government have made their commitment to the principles of Workstep and any continuing successor programmes beyond 2009 clear, both in the letter I received from the former Minister and in comments made in the House of Lords on 21 July by the Department of Work and Pensions Minister, the noble Lord McKenzie of Luton. Blackpool council should also now make that commitment as well as giving an undertaking to make sure that progression, assessment and support issues for disabled people with supportive employment are properly and professionally handled in future. At a time when the ruling Conservative cabinet of Blackpool council is keen to be seen to be promoting new equality initiatives, it should do no less if it aspires to be taken seriously about supporting disabled people. That might be some compensation for those who have been put through the wringer by the way in which Blackpool council has mishandled its stewardship of the Workstep scheme for the people it held under contract, to whom it owed a duty of care.