Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Mental Health Foundation’s report's findings in relation to single parents and finances; and in what way he plans to support single parents in Scotland into the workforce.

The Government recognises the challenges highlighted by the Mental Health Foundation, including the impact of financial pressures on single parents' wellbeing and the need to support them into work and improve their financial circumstances.

Parents who are receiving benefits can access tailored and flexible employment support through jobcentres, including in Scotland. The Scottish Government also provides employment support to lone parents. The Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus work closely with the Scottish Government and their Local Authorities and agencies to align UK Government support with devolved provision in Scotland.

As part of the Government’s plans to reform Jobcentre Plus, we are making support more inclusive and better tailored to individual needs, including for single parents, to help them move into secure, meaningful work, develop skills and progress in their career. As part of the new service, we are testing delivery in the community with Jobcentre vans and in locations such as libraries, GP surgeries and Family Hubs. We have also launched digital tools, known as ‘Work Hub’, available to all, this includes access to an AI work assistant, a CV builder and new job search tool.

Parents in receipt of Universal Credit can also be reimbursed up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month up to the maximum amounts, regardless of the number of hours they work. Financial support through the Flexible Support Fund is also available to help with the cost of interviews, starting work or up-front childcare costs.

We also have a range of specialist initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including mental health conditions, to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems. This includes support from Disability Employment Advisers in jobcentres and Access to Work grants.

The Government commissioned Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working Review. The final report, published on 5 November 2025, highlighted the scale of the problem of people falling out of work for reasons of ill-health and disability, including mental health conditions, and the role employers can play in addressing this. Keep Britain Working launched a Vanguard Phase, where we are working with forward thinking employers across different sizes and sectors to test and refine what works best to help people get the support they need to stay in work. Many of these approaches, such as flexible working, would also support single parents.