Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to encourage Work Programme providers to work with housing associations to help tenants boost their employability.

We actively encourage housing associations to approach their local Work Programme providers to work together and there is evidence of this happening to help tenants boost their employability.

We are currently exploring ways in which we can build on the success of the current programme in the design of future contracts, including through ensuring effective partnership working at the local level. We will be engaging with stakeholders, including housing associations, as this work progresses.

Work Programme providers remain responsible for promoting and publicising the programme to ensure effective engagement with key stakeholders, including local partners such as housing associations. As of September 2014, the Work Programme has helped 368,000 long term unemployed people into lasting work.