Work and Pensions Committee
Select Committee Press Notice
AN34 2012–13
5 February 2013
For immediate release
Work and Pensions Committee announces forthcoming evidence session on the Work Programme:experience of different user groups
The Work and Pensions Select Committee will hear evidence from Work Programme subcontractors, other specialist employment services providers and the company contracted by DWP to assess the quality of Work Programme supply chains on Wednesday 13 February. This will be the third oral evidence session of the inquiry.
The Committee published a report on the design and commissioning of the Work Programme in 2011. The current inquiry is following up some of the issues raised in that report, with a focus on the delivery of services and the experience of participants, particularly those who may be considered harder to help into sustained employment.
Details of the session are as follows:
Time/date: Wednesday 13 February at 9.30 am
Location: A Committee room at the House of Commons to be confirmed
Witnesses
- emqc Ltd – Dave Allan, Managing Director
- Social Firms UK – Michele Rigby, Chief Executive Officer
- Pluss – Martin Davies, Chief Executive Officer
- Wheatsheaf Trust – Jonathan Cheshire, Chief Executive
Further evidence sessions are planned as follows. All meetings will be in a House of Commons Committee room and open to the public. All dates, times and witness details subject to confirmation:
Time/date: Wednesday 6 March at 9.30 am
Witnesses: The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA, the industry body) and prime providers
Time/date: Wednesday 13 March at 9.30 am
Witnesses: Employers and employers’ organisations
Time/date: Wednesday 20 March at 4.30 pm
Witness: Mr Mark Hoban MP, Minister for Employment, and officials, DWP
–ENDS—
Further information
General information about the inquiry:
The written evidence that the Committee has received for this inquiry is available on our website here: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmworpen/writev/work/contents.htm
The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows:
The differential payments model including: the extent to which it is incentivising providers to help all participants and thereby addressing “creaming and parking”; how effectively the model reflects claimants’ relative needs; and variations in job outcomes between the different payment groups;
- The prime provider model including: its impact on subcontractors; and the extent to which it helps ensure that participants receive services tailored to their particular needs;
- The level of service provided to participants in different payment groups including: whether minimum service delivery standards have been specified in sufficient detail by providers and DWP; and the rigour and effectiveness of DWP’s monitoring and complaints procedures;
- The “black box” approach to service delivery including: whether it is proving to be effective in fostering innovative and personalised interventions for claimants in all payment groups; and DWP’s role in monitoring this; and
- Regional variations in job outcome statistics: including whether competition between providers is driving up performance in contract package areas where the economy is particularly depressed; and how provider performance could be improved in these areas.
Committee membership:
Dame Anne Begg MP (Chair) (Lab, Aberdeen South), Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth), Mr Aidan Burley MP (Con, Cannock Chase), Jane Ellison MP (Con, Battersea), Graham Evans MP (Con, Weaver Vale), Sheila Gilmore MP (Lab, Edinburgh East), Glenda Jackson MP (Lab, Hampstead and Highgate), Stephen Lloyd MP (Lib Dem, Eastbourne), Nigel Mills MP (Con, Amber Valley), Anne Marie Morris MP (Newton Abbot), Teresa Pearce MP (Lab, Erith and Thamesmead).
Specific Committee Information: workpencom@parliament.uk 020 7219 2839
Media Information: abbottj@parliament.uk 020 7219 2003
Committee Website: www.parliament.uk/workpencom
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Publications/Reports/Reference Material:
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