Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2023 to Question 155127 on the Flexible Support Fund, if he will provide further detail on what is funded in each of the categories (a) Partnerships, (b) Removing Barriers, (c) Training, (d) Childcare and (e) Other.

a) Partnership’s expenditure is grant funding provided to partner organisations to help deliver DWP objectives. Partners are often local organisations with existing community stakeholder relationships.

b) Removing Barriers expenditure helps customers overcome barriers to secure job outcomes. This may include equipment to start work, clothing and travel cost support.

c) Training expenditure includes the cost of training courses to give customers the required skills to secure jobs or move closer to work. This may also include the cost of travel by the customer to the training course.

d) Childcare expenditure includes upfront childcare costs to cover the initial costs before the customer receives their first wage when starting work. This may also include support to customers on training courses.

e) Other expenditure includes the costs associated with customer work experience.