Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many businesses participating in the Kickstart scheme have been investigated by her Department for failing to meet their obligations to participants.

Under the terms of the Kickstart Scheme Grant Funding Agreement, employers and Kickstart Gateways have a responsibility to carry out their obligations in accordance with all applicable law. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will investigate any organisation where there is evidence of a failure to meet obligations. To date we have rescinded 10 grant agreements as a result of our investigations.