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<p>The performance of large Government programmes such as the Work programme and the Youth Contract are a priority for both the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As such, there are ongoing discussions between our two Departments about the performance of these projects.</p><p>The Work programme has been underway since June 2011, delivering personalised support to long term and vulnerable jobseekers. With more people getting into work within a year of joining the programme, performance is improving. The numbers of people finding lasting work—at least six months for most people or three months for the hardest to help—has increased from 9,000 in March 2012 to 132,000 in March 2013.</p><p>DWP have issued Performance Improvement Notices on 12 contracts that are deemed as not delivering the Work programme to the agreed standards. If these providers do not demonstrate significant improvements DWP will continue to take action in line with contracts. This could lead to contract termination.</p><p>The Youth Contract was launched in April 2012 to help support half a million young people into employment. The Government remains committed to implementation of this programme, and in July this year the Government announced £50 million will be made available to England's eight largest cities (outside London) to invest in getting young people into work.</p> |