work programme

The government’s back-to-work programme is praised by ministers but damned as a failure by the unions. FactCheck referees.

The latest figures from the Work Programme have been hailed as a success by the government – and a resounding failure by Labour and the unions. FactCheck cuts through the spin.

Dave Hartnett used to be top taxman but is now to work with Deloitte. Who does he follow? FactCheck gets behind the revolving doors of Whitehall.

Growth is down but employment is up. It’s a conundrum for economists. Can we rely on the jobless figures or is the government cooking the books? FactCheck finds out.

We take a look back at the lowlights of 2012 with damned lies and statistics coming thick and fast from across the political spectrum.

The background The government launched the Work Programme in June last year, calling it the biggest welfare-to-work initiative in UK history. Is it working? With more than 2.5 million people unemployed, there’s a huge amount riding on that question. And the government now says it wants to export the same kind of model – outsourcing…

“You essentially recruit the best people for your own organisation but instead of paying for the cost of vetting, interviewing, training and trialling them yourself, the taxpayer picks up the bill because those things are covered by the 2012 contract. You then collect from the taxpayer a second time because the people you recruited were on the Work Programme and you got them off the dole queue.”

Even if the government did absolutely nothing to help them, a certain percentage of people would find work off their own bat. The Work Programme can only be said to be “working” – or having any effect at all – if providers are doing better than this “non-intervention” rate.

“Confusion reigns, and despite repeated phone calls and several days to think about it, DWP has declined to clarify the situation.”

“Much like the French Foreign Legion, the scheme is “entirely voluntary” to enter, but there may be an element of compulsion later on if you decide to leave.”