Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the Connect to Work programme will be implemented in 2025, in the context of its predecessor programme being planned for 2024; and if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the timing of this rollout on the number of people who will be supported into work by the end of 2025.

As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper published 26 November 2024 Get Britain Working White Paper - GOV.UK, the new voluntary, locally led, supported employment programme Connect to Work will be the first programme under the Government’s new Get Britain Working Strategy. Whilst Connect to Work will use the funding that was initially reserved for the Universal Support Programme, Connect to Work has been co-designed with Local Authorities and has flexibility to meet local needs at its core.

The Connect to Work grant guidance, also published on Gov.uk on 26 November Connect to Work - GOV.UK, invites areas to develop a delivery plan which sets out the design of their own local Connect to Work programmes, working within the national guidance. We do not know what volumes will be delivered by local areas until Delivery Plans are received. With a phased rollout led by Local Authorities’ own timetables. When the General Election was called, there were no plans in place to support delivery in 2024. We have extended the funding for Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care to sustain delivery of this locally led programme while areas develop their Connect to Work plans.