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25/09/2012
A4E Prison Education Contracts Delayed For Fraud Investigation
Multimillion-pound contracts to run education programmes in 25 prisons, due to be taken over by controversial welfare-to-work provider A4E, have been stalled while anti-fraud checks are carried out.
The Skills Funding Agency (SFA), which is responsible for prison education in England and Wales, ordered the extra audit earlier this year after police began a fraud investigation into A4E and the Department for Work and Pensions terminated the firm's contract for mandatory work activity for the unemployed in the south-east.
The prison education contracts for jails in England and Wales that went to further education colleges began on 1 August.
But the start of the A4E contracts for 25 prisons in London and the east of England were delayed until 1 November while the special audit of its past work in prison education was carried out.
A statement from SFA said: "Through the audit work the agency carried out, the agency did not find any cases of fraud. Therefore it decided to proceed with the next stage of the procurement process in respect of London and the east of England, and to award contracts to A4E.
"As with all our providers, once contracts are signed the agency continues to apply its robust contract management processes, including quarterly performance reviews, audits and working with Noms and lead governors. This enables continued assurance that public funding is being used and protected appropriately."
(H)
The Skills Funding Agency (SFA), which is responsible for prison education in England and Wales, ordered the extra audit earlier this year after police began a fraud investigation into A4E and the Department for Work and Pensions terminated the firm's contract for mandatory work activity for the unemployed in the south-east.
The prison education contracts for jails in England and Wales that went to further education colleges began on 1 August.
But the start of the A4E contracts for 25 prisons in London and the east of England were delayed until 1 November while the special audit of its past work in prison education was carried out.
A statement from SFA said: "Through the audit work the agency carried out, the agency did not find any cases of fraud. Therefore it decided to proceed with the next stage of the procurement process in respect of London and the east of England, and to award contracts to A4E.
"As with all our providers, once contracts are signed the agency continues to apply its robust contract management processes, including quarterly performance reviews, audits and working with Noms and lead governors. This enables continued assurance that public funding is being used and protected appropriately."
(H)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
