Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent meetings (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have held with organisations that deliver disability employment projects funded by the European Social Fund.

The European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 Programme naturally supports the disability employment demographic. From the DWP ministerial team, Sarah Newton, Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, has had several meetings with Work and Health Programme providers during Summer recess, and these providers have secured ESF funding for different employment programmes.

Both the ESF England Managing Authority and DWP Co-financing Organisation (CFO) are situated within DWP. DWP CFO holds regular meetings with its suppliers delivering contracts for DWP ESF funded provision as part of performance management activities. They also meet with key stakeholders involved in the provision.

ESF is a devolved matter for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.