Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many organisations which have provided work placements for the Community Work Placement scheme have since withdrawn from that scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Community Work Placements are part of Help to Work. They help long-term unemployed people gain work experience which increases their confidence, helps them to gain vital skills and crucially, improves their chances of getting a job.

DWP contracts with prime providers. The prime providers source the community work placements. All placements must be of benefit to the community and must not be used to replace existing roles or fill vacancies for paid employment.