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22/02/2013
Work Programme Branded 'Worse Than Doing Nothing'
The governments multi-billion-pound welfare-to-work scheme have been criticised as “extremely poor” by MPs.
The Public Accounts Committee has said the Work Programme only managed to get 3.6% of the people on the scheme off benefits and into secure employment in its first 14 months.
The government has responded saying it was "early days" for the scheme and the committee's report had painted a "skewed picture".
In stronge criticism Labour branded the scheme as “worse than doing nothing.”
"It is shocking that, of the 9,500 former incapacity benefit claimants referred to providers, only 20 people have been placed in a job that has lasted three months, while the poorest-performing provider did not manage to place a single person in the under-25 category into a job lasting six months," Labour MP and committee chair Margaret Hodge said.
(H)
The Public Accounts Committee has said the Work Programme only managed to get 3.6% of the people on the scheme off benefits and into secure employment in its first 14 months.
The government has responded saying it was "early days" for the scheme and the committee's report had painted a "skewed picture".
In stronge criticism Labour branded the scheme as “worse than doing nothing.”
"It is shocking that, of the 9,500 former incapacity benefit claimants referred to providers, only 20 people have been placed in a job that has lasted three months, while the poorest-performing provider did not manage to place a single person in the under-25 category into a job lasting six months," Labour MP and committee chair Margaret Hodge said.
(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.
