The Comprehensive Spending Review and the Work Programme

You will be aware that the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2010 was announced on 20 October 2010. The Review set out the Department for Work and Pensions' settlement, which we are pleased to confirm allows us to proceed as planned with the procurement of the Work Programme. For the first time, providers will have clear financial incentives to get people back to work and help them stay there, and will be rewarded for their success out of the benefit savings they realise.

Now that the Department has received its settlement, we will need to work through the detailed implications for the Work Programme design and funding model, before the next stage of procurement later this year.

We will continue to keep you updated as policy is developed and will publish an updated Prospectus setting out progress later in the autumn. In the meantime, if you have any further questions please direct them to the Work Programme external email address: theworkprogramme.external@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

We remain on track to publish the list of successful Framework for Employment Related Support Services bidders at the end of November. We will then provide the Invitation to Tender for the delivery of the Work Programme, shortly followed by the Programme Specification detailing final customer eligibility.

Finally, thank you for bearing with us in this transitional period, and we look forward to working closely with you to make the Work Programme a success over the coming months and years.