Work Choice Data Collection Exercise

Dear Work Preparation Provider

Over May and June last year Work Preparation providers supplied DWP with information related to delivery of the Work Preparation programme. Your assistance was very much appreciated and the information you sent was extremely helpful. It enabled the project to better understand the employment liabilities arising from Work Preparation provision. It also ensured prospective bidders were properly informed, enabling realistic bids.

Before DWP awards contracts at the end of April we need to refresh and enhance this data.

DWP is therefore seeking to update and build upon the information already gathered by conducting a further data exercise with Work Preparation providers. We understand that these exercises can be time consuming. However, we also know that you will be keen to do all that is possible to make sure that your employees are not negatively affected by the transition to Work Choice. We hope that you will be reassured to know that the information we will request is the minimum necessary for this purpose. The data we receive will only be passed to the new Work Choice Prime Providers once contracts have been signed. Prime Providers will be, therefore, contractually obliged to treat this data as confidential and to store it securely and in line with DWP protocols.

DWP will be requesting data from all current Work Preparation providers in March 2010. The content and approach of the data collection will be similar to last year's but with some important differences; we will be asking for some additional employee information which will be of a more personal nature. Because of this, the method of collection will be slightly different.

Due to the increased level of personal information required, it will be necessary for all Work Preparation providers (with certain exceptions) to encrypt the data before sending it to DWP. This encryption must be done using Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) software, which can be purchased and downloaded from www.pgp.com. Please see ANNEX A for further information about sending the data to DWP.

A follow-up communication will be posted on the Notice to Providers shortly which will detail what we will be asking you to provide along with the form you will need to fill in and further guidance. In the meantime, please ensure you are equipped for the upcoming data collection exercise as detailed in this communication.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and assistance.