Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 28 of his Department's Work Programme Evaluation published in December 2014, what guidance his Department gives Work Programme providers on best practice in cases where the costs of support for those with greatest need exceed the payments available.

The Department has not issued guidance to Work Programme providers on best practice in cases where the costs of support for those with greatest need exceed the payments available.

From the inception of the programme to address provider concerns in this area the Work Programme model includes a ‘differential pricing’ structure. Under this providers are paid at different rates for outcomes achieved by different target groups (with outcomes for ‘harder-to-help’ groups being paid at higher rates than those for groups closer to the labour market).