Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to ensure Work Programme providers adhere to safeguarding guidance for vulnerable claimants; and what penalties his Department has in place to apply against those providers who do not follow that guidance.

We have developed guidance on safeguarding vulnerable claimants and continuously review and update it to provide clarity to providers in this important area. The Department’s performance managers work closely with providers to ensure they adhere to the guidance and take action if necessary.