Rt Hon. Chris Grayling MP reflects on the Work Programme’s success

The Rt Hon. Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment, has claimed that despite people on the left wanting the Work Programme to fail for ideological reasons, the Work Programme has been a success. Most providers are roughly in line with targets set for them, the minister said. Speaking at Inclusion's Welfare to Work Convention 2012 in Birmingham, Chris Grayling said innovation, strong relations with employers and intensity of intervention were the main means by which providers have become successful in delivering employment support.

Chris Grayling pointed out that since the programme's introduction last summer, 25 per cent of those joining it have come off benefit. A quarter of those who have come off benefit have been in work for the past three months and one in six for the past six months. Since the Youth Contract was introduced, 17,000 young people who were on the Work Programme have found jobs.

Chris Grayling did admit that numbers referred to the Work Programme on Employment and Support Allowance were disappointing, and stated that the government is considering ways to address this.

A video of Chris Grayling's speech will be available on the Inclusion website next week.