Plan for Jobs and employment support: Work and Pensions Committee publishes Government response to report

The report, published in July, called for more focus on helping young people, the over 50s and people with disabilities and long-term health conditions find and stay in work.

While the Government has responded positively to the Committee’s call to pilot a more person-centred approach to support, based on the US Jobs Plus model, key recommendations on developing a new self-employment support programme and devolving support to groups of local authorities have been rejected.

The recommendation that DWP should publish results for each of its employment programmes on a quarterly basis has also been rejected. The Committee’s recommendation that eligibility for support programmes should be widened to those not on benefits is to be kept under consideration.

Chair's comment

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said:

“I welcome that the Government has accepted one of our key recommendations to trial a person-centred Jobs Plus approach to employment support. We saw first-hand when we visited two jobs Plus programmes in the US earlier this year the transformational effect that such programmes can have.

“It is disappointing that the Government has rejected our case for a new self-employment support programme, despite saying it is committed to helping everyone thrive in the labour market.  There is also no commitment to publishing the results of employment programmes on a regular basis, which would allow external evaluation and help DWP to make more informed decisions.

“Effective help for people struggling to find and stay in work benefits individuals, employers and the wider economy so we will continue to press the Government to ensure the help on offer is effective.”

Further information

• Inquiry: Plan for jobs and employment support
• Work and Pensions Committee
• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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