Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Not Addressed
DWP consistently had fewer work coaches than estimated need across jobcentres.
Conclusion
For the first six months of 2024–25, the Department assessed it would need on average 18,900 work coaches but had funding for between 17,600 and 18,000.9 The Department told us it forecasts demand on a six-monthly cycle but plans resource over a longer timeframe – funding for 2024–25 was originally set in November 2021. It also said it has a judgement to make on resourcing, to balance work pressures facing jobcentres against the pressures in other service lines.10 The Department pointed to Figure 5 in the NAO report which shows the Department had fewer work coaches than it estimated it needed over the period April 2022 to September 2024, with the exception of May 2022. Despite this, the Department told the committee it has been able to meet the broad trend of demand over the last 12 months while acknowledging it may never have the right number of work coaches in any one place.11 6 The Department for Work and Pensions, Get Britain Working, CP 1191, November 2024, paras 2, 10 7 The Department for Work and Pensions, Pathways to Work, CP 1297, March 2025, paras 4, 19-20 8 C&AG’s Report, paras 11, 2.12 9 C&AG’s Report, paras 11, 2.10, 2,12 10 Qq 17, 28 11 Q 17; C&AG’s Report, Figure 5 9
Government Response Summary
Despite an initial statement of agreement, the government's response discusses a Water Reform Bill and the establishment of a single water regulator, which is entirely unrelated to the committee's conclusion about work coach numbers and funding.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation recommendations in full via a White Paper, published for consultation this autumn 2025, and a new Water Reform Bill to be introduced early this Parliament. The government will publish a transition plan alongside the White Paper. Until the single water regulator is fully established, the existing regulators will continue to carry out their functions and enforcement responsibilities in full. The government will clarify its expectations through a Strategic Policy Statement and ministerial direction, expected to be published later in 2025. Treasury Minutes Archive1 Treasury Minutes are the Government’s response to reports from the Committee of Public Accounts. Treasury Minutes are Command Papers laid in Parliament. Session 2024-25 Committee Recommendations: 350 Recommendations agreed: 332 (95%) Recommendations disagreed: 18 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number April 2025 Government response to PAC reports 1-4, 6-9 CP 1306 May 2025 Government response to PAC reports 5,10-17 CP 1328 June 2025 Government response to PAC reports 18-22 CP 1341 July 2025 Government response to PAC reports 23-26 CP 1367 August 2025 Government response to PAC reports 27-34 CP 1382 September 2025 Government response to PAC reports 35-42 CP 1404 Session 2023-24 Committee Recommendations: 271 Recommendations agreed: 252 (93%) Recommendations disagreed: 19 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number February 2024 Government response to PAC reports 1-6 [80 Session 22-23] CP 1029 March 2024 Government response to PAC reports 7-11 CP 1057 April 2024 Government response to PAC reports 12-18 CP 1070 May 2024 Government response to PAC reports 19-24 CP 1085 September 2024 Government response to PAC reports 26-29, 31, 33-38 CP 1151 October 2024 Government response to PAC reports 25, 26, 30 and 32 CP 1174 Session 2022-23 Committee Recommendations: 551 Recommendations agreed: 489 (89%) Recommendations disagreed: 62 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number July 2022 Government response to PAC reports 1, 3 & 10 CP 722 August 2022 Government response to PAC reports 2, 4-8 CP 708 September 2022 Government response to PAC reports 9, 13-16 CP 745 November 2022 Government response to PAC reports 11, 12, 17 CP 755 December 2022 Government response to PAC reports 18-22 CP 774 January 2023 Government response to PAC reports 23-26 CP 781 February 2023 Government response to PAC reports 27-31 CP 802 March 2023 Government response to PAC reports 32-36 CP 828 May 2023 Government response to PAC reports 37-41 CP 845 1 List of Treasury Minutes responses for Sessions 2010-15 are annexed in the government’s response to PAC Report 52 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number June 2023 Government response to PAC reports 42-47 CP 847 July 2023 Government response to PAC reports 48-54 CP 902 August 2023 Government response to PAC reports 55-60 CP 921 September 2023 Government response to PAC reports 62-67 CP 941 November 2023 Government response to PAC reports 68-71 CP 968 January 2024 Government response to PAC reports 72-79 CP 1000 February 2024 Government response to PAC reports 80 [1-6 Session 23-24] CP 1029 Session 2021-22 Committee Recommendations: 362 Recommendations agreed: 333 (92%) Recommendations disagreed: 29 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number August 2021 Government response to PAC reports 1-6 CP 510 September 2021 Government response to PAC reports 8-11 CP 520 November 2021 Government response to PAC reports 7,13-16 (and TM2 BBC) CP 550 December 2021 Government response to PAC reports 12, 17-21 CP 583 January 2022 Government response to PAC reports 22-26 CP 603 February 2022 Government response to PAC reports 27-31 CP 631 April 2022 Government response to PAC reports 32-35 CP 649 April 2022 Government response to PAC reports 36-42 CP 667 July 2022 Government response to PAC reports 49-52 CP 722 Session 2019-21 Committee Recommendations: 233 Recommendations agreed: 208 (89%) Recommendations disagreed: 25 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number July 2020 Government responses to PAC reports 1-6 CP 270 September 2020 Government responses to PAC reports 7-13 CP 291 November 2020 Government responses to PAC reports 14-17 and 19 CP 316 January 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 18, 20-24 CP 363 February 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 25-29 CP 376 February 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 30-34 CP 389 March 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 35-39 CP 409 April 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 40- 44 CP 420 May 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 45-51 CP 434 June 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 52-56 CP 456 Session 2019 Committee Recommendations: 11 Recommendations agreed: 11 (100%) Recommendations disagreed: 0 Ref Publication Date PAC Reports Number January 2020 Government response to PAC report [112-119] 1 and 2 CP 210 Session 2017-19 Committee Recommendations: 747 Recommendations agreed: 675 (90%) Recommendations disagreed: 72 (10%) Publication Date PAC