Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she will take (a) to ensure that requirements for employers participating in the Kickstart scheme to deliver support and training will be assessed and monitored by her Department and (b) in the event that those requirements are not met.

The quality of the Kickstart vacancy and of the employability support will be assessed in the application process, and spot checks will also be held to identify any concerns in quality after a placement has started. Employers and Kickstart gateways commit to provide a quality placement and level of support as a part of their grant agreement with the department, and appropriate action will be taken in response to any breach of this agreement.