Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 36 of the report entitled Universal Credit Conditionality Changes & the Impact on Single Parent Families, published by Single Parents Rights, in March 2024, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that work coach meetings meet the needs of single parents.

Work Coaches work with all customers, including lead carers to provide tailored advice on a range of opportunities to improve their likelihood of entering or re-entering the labour market, including training for skilled jobs in specific sectors.

As previously announced, we are planning fundamental reforms to the employment system to support more people to get into and to get on in work.

Proposed reforms include:

• A new public employment and careers service to help get more people into work and to progress in work.
• Working with local areas to tackle economic inactivity including the development of joined-up work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, with input from mayors, local councils, the NHS, businesses, colleges and the voluntary sector to address barriers and deliver employment opportunities for local people.
• A youth guarantee for all people aged 18 to 21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or employment support.