Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the Access to Work budget was underspent in 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

Access to Work is a demand led scheme and we intend to continue to meet that demand. The amount of money spent on it will always reflect the number and nature of successful applications.

In 2013/14 35,560 disabled people were supported to take-up or remain in employment, an increase of 4000 from the year before, and we want to see this figure rise even further.

When a data release is made in July then finalised customers’ numbers and the associated spend for the year 14/15 will be available.