Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has put in place any provisions to ensure that participants in the Work Programme have sufficient time to continue their search for permanent employment.

Work Programme providers must ensure that any activities agreed do not prevent participants from being able to satisfy the conditions for receiving benefit, for example actively seeking work. Before starting a work placement providers are required to discuss with the participant arrangements for continuing their job search efforts.