Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work of the Poppy Factory in helping disabled veterans find sustainable employment; and whether they would consider using it to assist the work of Work Choice.

Government values the work carried out by The Poppy Factory. The Poppy Factory made a valuable contribution to the Health and Work Green Paper consultation and also attended a special DWP consultation event for Armed Forces stakeholders.

Work Choice is no longer accepting referrals as it is being replaced by The Work and Health Programme, which was rolled out in all areas of England and Wales between November 2017 and March 2018. The Poppy Factory was informed at the appropriate time how to bid to become a Work and Health Programme supplier. Successful suppliers were announced in early October 2017.

The Government looks closely at schemes to help people back to work, studies relevant research and learns lessons where appropriate. The Poppy Factory’s ‘Getting You Back to Work’ programme has delivered impressive outcomes through its Individual Placement and Support approach and the organisation should be congratulated for the way it supports its clients.

The NHS is doubling its provision of IPS services in NHS services for people with severe and enduring mental health, for whom it has proved successful. The Government is also testing whether this model of employment support is effective for other groups.

We would be keen to learn from the experience of the Poppy Factory of running IPS for veterans. Previous DWP Armed Forces Ministers have visited the Poppy Factory in Richmond and I plan to visit later this year.