3rd Report -The Work Programme in Wales (Volume I: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence)

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the Committee's report, accepts some recommendations (including on ESF access and lone parents), does not accept the recommendation to consult on extending the Work Programme timeframe, and refutes the claim that the Work Programme and Jobs Growth Wales are incompatible.

• On the restriction on ESF-funded training, the Department "accepts the committee's recommendation" and is asking the Welsh Government to review its decision, with progress to be reported to the Committee "in due course".
• The Department "refutes the assertion" that the Work Programme and Jobs Growth Wales are incompatible, stating that DWP "asserts that both initiatives are complementary".
• The Department "does not accept" the recommendation to consult on extending the Work Programme timeframe, stating that the programme "supports participants for longer than any previous mainstream programme".
• The Department "accepts the committee's recommendation" on lone parents, stating that both Welsh providers "have already put measures in place". It says the Best Practice group will make its recommendation to the Minister for Employment "by spring 2014".

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