HM Revenue and Customs are responsible for enforcing payment of the National Minimum Wage for all people in employment..

The information requested for Work Programme referrals and attachments, by various geographies, is published and available at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

The information requested for the number of people placed into employment from the Work Programme, is not available.

The information we do have shows the number of Work Programme Job Outcomes, by various geographies and this can be found at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Work Programme providers will support participants to explore all employment options. Independent evaluation data published in December 2014 indicated that those receiving advice on self-employment generally found it useful.

The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The information showing the number of Work Programme Referrals, Job Outcomes and Sustainment Payments, up to December 2014, by various geographies can be found at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

The information requested for part (a), in respect of the number of people placed into employment from the Work Programme is not available.

The information we do have shows the number of Work Programme job outcomes, by various geographies and this can be found at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Information on the number of Jobseeker’s allowance and Employment Support Allowance claimants referred to the Work Programme who have been sanctioned for failure to participate, by various geographies, is published and available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Guidance for users is available at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

The information requested in respect of the Work Programme is published and available at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Disabled people are able to access Work Programme support at a variety of points. Those on Employment and Support Allowance can enter the programme immediately after their Work Capability Assessment. Claimants on Jobseekers’ Allowance with a disability can volunteer from three months after the date of their claim. If Jobseekers’ Allowance claimants with a disability do not elect to join the programme at this point, they will be referred on a mandatory basis 12 months after the initial point of claim.

To be eligible for Work Choice, a customer/claimant must be of working age, resident in the UK and disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010. They must also satisfy the following suitability criteria:

· experience complex employment support needs arising primarily from their disability; AND

· have barriers in work that cannot be overcome through workplace adjustments required under the Equality Act 2010 and/or Access to Work support; AND

· likely to need support in work as well as help with finding work; AND

· cannot be helped through other DWP programmes/suitable provision; AND

· expect to be able to work for a minimum of 16 hours or more per week following completion of Module One of Work Choice.

The specific information requested for the percentage of disabled people supported into employment from the Work Programme and by Work Choice is not available.

The Department checks accuracy of information through its tried and tested quality assurance process involving full sign-off of products by stakeholders and senior management.

The Department, as part of the Work Choice provider guidance, prescribes the events that should be followed to ensure a clear, effective and salient approach to communications with participants receiving support under this programme. This is reviewed on a continual basis however any concerns or issues with individual communications are dealt with by exception rather than by routine or prescribed period checks.

Disabled people are able to access Work Programme support at a variety of points. Those on Employment and Support Allowance can enter the programme immediately after their Work Capability Assessment. Claimants on Jobseekers’ Allowance with a disability can volunteer from three months after the date of their claim. If Jobseekers’ Allowance claimants with a disability do not elect to join the programme at this point, they will be referred on a mandatory basis 12 months after the initial point of claim.

To be eligible for Work Choice, a customer/claimant must be of working age, resident in the UK and disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010. They must also satisfy the following suitability criteria:

· experience complex employment support needs arising primarily from their disability; AND

· have barriers in work that cannot be overcome through workplace adjustments required under the Equality Act 2010 and/or Access to Work support; AND

· likely to need support in work as well as help with finding work; AND

· cannot be helped through other DWP programmes/suitable provision; AND

· expect to be able to work for a minimum of 16 hours or more per week following completion of Module One of Work Choice.

The specific information requested for the percentage of disabled people supported into employment from the Work Programme and by Work Choice is not available.

The Department checks accuracy of information through its tried and tested quality assurance process involving full sign-off of products by stakeholders and senior management.

The Department, as part of the Work Choice provider guidance, prescribes the events that should be followed to ensure a clear, effective and salient approach to communications with participants receiving support under this programme. This is reviewed on a continual basis however any concerns or issues with individual communications are dealt with by exception rather than by routine or prescribed period checks.

The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The information requested for the number of people placed into employment from the Work Programme, is not available.

The information we do have shows the number of Work Programme Job Outcomes, by various geographies and this can be found at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

This information is also available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/organisations-that-supply-services-to-the-work-programme-providers.

I have arranged for the last published stock take to be placed in the Library.

Work Programme providers have flexibility to innovate and to design support that addresses the needs of individuals and the local labour market, rather than having to follow a one size fits all process.

Work Programme providers remain responsible for promoting and publicising the programme to ensure effective engagement with key stakeholders, including local partners such as local authorities. Indeed, the last stocktake of the Work Programme supply chain shows 30 local authorities or councils working directly to prime providers as either a tier 1 or tier 2 sub-contractor with other local authorities and councils also involved beyond those tiers. As of September 2014, the Work Programme has helped 368,000 long term unemployed people into lasting work with local authorities playing a part in this success.

We are currently exploring ways in which we can build on the success of the current programme in the design of future contracts, including through ensuring effective partnership working at the local level. We will be engaging with stakeholders, including local authorities, as this work progresses.

The information requested for Work Programme Referrals, Attachments and Job Outcomes, by various geographies, is published and available at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

The information requested, to answer both questions for Work Programme Referrals and Job Outcomes, by Payment Group since June 2011, is published and available at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Proportions can be calculated using the published figures.

The information requested, to answer both questions for Work Programme Referrals and Job Outcomes, by Payment Group since June 2011, is published and available at:

http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Proportions can be calculated using the published figures.

The objective of the Work programme is to move more people into sustainable employment, and so the available data relate to people’s job outcomes, not starts, which

means they have been in work for three or six months. To September 2014, there were 300,410 referrals of people aged 50 and over, resulting in 42,750 job outcomes.

The objective of the Work programme is to move people into sustainable employment, and so the available data relate to people’s job outcomes, not starts, which means they have been in work for three or six months. As of September 2014, there were 596,640 referrals for people with a disability indicator and 78,480 job outcomes paid.

What proportion of people over the age of 50 who have been referred to the Work Programme have found work as a result.