Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Eighth Report - Plan for Jobs and employment support
Work and Pensions Committee
HC 600
Published 19 July 2023
Recommendations
19
Acknowledged
Para 124
Expand eligibility for support programmes to include economically inactive people not receiving benefits.
Recommendation
The UK labour market is facing high rates of economic inactivity, driven up as a result of the pandemic and the ending of freedom of movement. Although rates have now somewhat recovered, there are many more people outside the labour …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government highlights the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for local investment and outlines an additional comprehensive cross-government support package, including the WorkWell Partnerships Programme, aimed at increasing workforce participation for economically inactive groups. However, it does not explicitly commit to expanding DWP's own programme eligibility for non-benefit recipients as requested.
Department for Work and Pensions
View Details →
21
Acknowledged
Para 135
Apply lessons from Kickstart evaluation to inform the design of future similar schemes
Recommendation
We have heard numerous positive reports about Kickstart, however, without a comprehensive analysis of Kickstart or any publication of data on employment outcome, it is not possible to say with any assurance how successful the scheme has been or what …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states that its employment support programmes, including the 'Plan for Jobs' package, undergo comprehensive analysis and evaluation, with outcomes measured and reported externally. However, it does not specifically confirm how lessons from the Kickstart evaluation will be applied to future schemes along Kickstart's lines.
Department for Work and Pensions
View Details →
Conclusions (2)
8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 61
We welcome the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work’s intention for “a root and branch” review of the Disability Confident scheme and his acknowledgment of the role this will play in changing attitudes around disabled workers.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the review of the Disability Confident Scheme, stating work was paused due to a High Court decision but has now resumed, with officials refining recommendations based on gathered evidence.
38
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The Government’s Plan for Jobs and DWP’s response to the pandemic introduced a number of measures to support the recovery of the labour market and help people return to work. Although these initiatives have shown some success at helping people re-enter the labour market, they have not been able to …
Government Response Summary
The government thanks the Committee, affirms the success of the Plan for Jobs, and highlights a comprehensive package of cross-government measures announced in Spring Budget 2023 aimed at increasing workforce participation and reducing economic inactivity among identified groups.