Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support parents in low-income households to move into sustainable employment.

We want every parent who can work to feel the benefits of rewarding, secure jobs that enable them to get on in life and support their families. That is why the department offers a range of employment support to help parents overcome barriers to work and move into sustainable employment.

Parents who are receiving benefits can access tailored and flexible support through Jobcentres, including initiatives such as Inactivity Trailblazers in England and Wales, Skills Bootcamps, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, the Adult Skills Fund, Connect to Work and Pathways to Work for disabled people or those with health conditions. The Department for Work and Pensions also deploys c.300 Family Community work coaches in England to help parents overcome barriers to work.

The Department for Work and Pensions Careers Service in England provides free, impartial careers support to anyone who is looking for work, who wants to get on in work, or who wants to change their career or retrain, regardless of whether they are claiming benefits. Careers advisers focus on providing in-depth guidance to those facing the greatest barriers to work or learning, including single parents with dependent children.

Financial support through the Flexible Support Fund is also available to help with the cost of interviews, starting work or up-front childcare costs. Parents in receipt of Universal Credit can also be reimbursed up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month up to the maximum amounts, regardless of the number of hours they work.

We are also supporting parents to balance work and childcare, including through the Employment Rights Act, which will strengthen the right to request flexible working arrangements from 2027, and through rolling out free breakfast clubs in schools across the country.

As part of our development of the new Jobs and Careers Service, we are reforming employment support to make it more inclusive and better tailored to individual needs. This includes improving the support we offer to parents to help them move back into good, meaningful work and progress in work. As part of the new service, we are testing delivery in community locations such as libraries, GP surgeries and Family Hubs. Our new digital tools, known as ‘Work Hub’, are also available to all, this includes access to an online AI work assistant, a CV builder and new job search tool.