PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Social Security Benefits: Disqualification (21 July 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress he is making on reducing the number of incorrectly completed sanction referral forms submitted by Work Programme providers; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by:
Sir Stephen Timms (Labour)

The vast majority of referrals are correct, however the Department is committed to driving best practice therefore in January 2014 the Department introduced a Provider Quality Assurance Framework to support providers in the completion of high quality and appropriate sanction referrals. To back this up in the autumn of 2014 the Department is starting a pilot in which Jobcentre Plus Labour Market Decision Makers will work directly with providers and provide on site coaching to help them eradicate inappropriate sanction referrals.

Answered by:
Esther McVey (Conservative)
1 September 2014