Work and Pensions Committee - First Report
Can the Work Programme work for all user groups?

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Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 15 May 2013.

Contents

Terms of Reference

Summary

1 Introduction

Background

Policy intentions

This inquiry

Structure of this report

2 The implications of lower than expected job outcome performance

Job outcome performance against Minimum Performance Levels

Options open to DWP in the event of continuing poor performance

The implications of lower than anticipated job outcome payments

Provision for unsuccessful participants

3 The role of JCP in the Work Programme

The aspiration towards "warm handovers"

Conditionality and sanctioning of Work Programme participants

4 Employer engagement

How willing are employers to recruit the long-term unemployed?

Work Programme providers' approaches to employer engagement

5 Jobseeker segmentation and the differential pricing model

Work Programme payment groups

Accuracy of the Work Capability Assessment

Effectiveness of the current pricing model

Alternative models

Funding the Work Programme

6 Assuring service standards for all participants

The "black box" approach

Minimum Service Standards

The type of services currently being provided

Assuring service quality

7 Availability of specialist support and regulating the market

The prime provider model

Subcontracting models

Volume of referrals to specialist subcontractors

Use of alternative and external funding streams

Financial risk and the flow of funding to subcontractors

Regulating supply chain relationships: the Merlin Standard

8 Conclusion

List of conclusions and recommendations

Formal Minutes

Witnesses

List of printed written evidence

List of additional written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament

Oral and written evidence

20 March 2013

13 March 2013

6 March 2013

13 February 2013

30 January 2013

19 December 2012

Written Evidence

Additional Written Evidence

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Prepared 21 May 2013