Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
Several of the Restart subcontractors work in multiple contract areas, and half of the prime...
Conclusion
Several of the Restart subcontractors work in multiple contract areas, and half of the prime contractors also work as subcontractors in areas where they are not the prime. This has helped to facilitate the sharing of best practice, but it reduces competition between contract areas.53 45 C&AG’s Report, para 22 46 C&AG’s Report, para 23 47 Q 17 48 Q 26; C&AG’s Report, figure 8 49 C&AG’s Report, paras 4, 1.11 50 Qq 30–33; C&AG’s Report, para 3.5 51 Qq 65–66, 30–33; C&AG’s Report, para 12, 20 52 Qq 32–33 53 C&AG’s Report, para 3.5 16 The Restart Scheme for long-term unemployed people
Government Response Summary
The government will enhance its processes by having prime providers report on subcontractor assignments, producing MI centrally, circulating subcontractor MI monthly for transparency, and sharing subcontractor MI with the evaluation team, with a target implementation date of Autumn 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2024 5.2 The department does collate robust Management Information (MI) to assess how providers are performing at Contract Package Area (CPA) level, noting that the department’s commercial model holds prime providers accountable for their own supply chains. The department’s commitment to continuous improvement, sharing best practice and building on its current processes will be enhanced by the following actions: • Prime providers will report on a simple return, the subcontractor each participant is assigned to. • The department will produce the relevant MI centrally, ensuring the methodology is aligned with their current suite of CPA MI. • Metrics will be: Starts on scheme, First Earnings and Job Outcomes. • The subcontractor MI for each CPA will be circulated to all prime providers monthly for complete transparency, and to facilitate the sharing of best practice. • Subcontractor MI will be shared with the evaluation team to be used as part of their process. 5.3 The department’s evaluation team already capture qualitative data on prime providers and subcontractors as part of their geographical case studies and use MI to select sites to ensure coverage across urban, rural and coastal areas. Standardising data collection at sub- CPA level will allow more precise focus where trends suggest further exploration is needed to understand delivery issues or good practice. This will be included in the department’s evaluation of Restart.