Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled DWP and CMG: spending over £500, July 2024, published on 3 September 2024, for what reason her Department spent (a) £533 at Back Market, (b) £580 at Bright Horizons, (c) £1259 at Cheltenham Mowers, (d) £699 and £599 at Currys, (e) £520 at Elya Catering, (f) £1,167 at Happy Days South West, (g) £555 at Moss Brows, (h) £527 at Argos,(i) £970 at Fitness Superstore and (j) multiple amounts with Trainline.

All these transactions would fall into the ‘Barrier Spend’ Category which is where the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) should be considered to remove barriers that are a) preventing claimants from moving closer to the job market, b) hindering a claimant’s search for work, c) preventing a claimant from accepting a firm job offer or moving into self-employment or d) preventing them from increasing their earnings, either through increased hours or job change.

Examples of ‘barrier spend’ may include smart clothing for interviews or to start work, essential work wear (excluding safety wear as it is the employer’s duty to provide this), essential tools and equipment for specialist roles/sectors (ie chef’s knives). This could also include travel costs where the inability to afford travel is preventing access to an employment opportunity.

The Trainline transactions are all for the purchase of ‘travel expenses’. Trainline often offers the most price effective ways of travel. FSF travel payments can be made in advance if it removes the barrier of arriving to and sustaining employment. This includes customers taking on additional job(s) or additional hours in current job(s). Most of these transactions were for a monthly pass to allow someone to start employment within London. After the first monthly wage, they would then be able to sustain their own travel costs.