Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to help improve access to English for Speakers of Other Languages courses through the Restart scheme.

The Restart Scheme offers personalised support to long-term unemployed claimants to help them move closer to or into work. Providers are required to deliver appropriate services to ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010, including communication with participants who do not speak English as a first language. If a participant has barriers to finding work due to English not being their first language, the provider will consider how best to address this. This may include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses or other guidance to ensure that the participant can access appropriate support.