Open Public Services White Paper

Debate between Oliver Letwin and Frank Roy

Monday 11th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Letwin]

Yes, we will.

[Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)]

One danger of welfare to work is that people can be put into jobs for which they are totally unsuited. How long will these people need to stay in work before their providers are paid for the result of their efforts in finding them a job?

[Mr Letwin]

The Work programme sets out a series of staged payments made to the providers when they get people into work. Full payment is made only if they keep those people in work over a sustained period. There is a huge incentive for each provider to find people work only of a kind that they will wish to remain in for the long term.