Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 28 of work programme evaluations: operation of the commissioning model, finance and programme delivery, published by his Department on 18 December 2014, what assessment he has made of the finding that only a small proportion of subcontractors were positive about the commerical attractiveness of their contracts with the primes.

The payment terms for Work Programme ensures value for money for tax payers: providers are paid for successful outcomes only, which drives our contractors to work harder. Overall the research found that prime providers were broadly positive about the financial model of upfront investment with later reward from outcome and sustainment payments. The research also found that subcontractors are increasingly positive about the financial model. Over two-thirds of subcontractors in 2014 indicated they would sustain or increase their involvement in the programme.