Debbie Abrahams – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will undertake a cost-benefit analysis of (a) Access to Work expenditure and (b) the potential effect of that programme on (i) social security expenditure and (ii) income tax returns.

Justin Tomlinson

The Government recognises the value users, employers and stakeholders place on the scheme which de-risks the recruitment and retention of disabled people, therefore we have increased the funding for Access to Work, to enable a further 25,000 customers to receive support by 2020. We continue to work with stakeholders to understand the value Access to Work adds.

Officials have previously explored the potential costs and benefits of Access to Work expenditure, including the impacts on social security expenditure and income tax returns. However, in the absence of a control group against which to assess the difference the programme makes to someone’s likelihood of being in work, it is not possible to establish a robust overall value for money figure and it would be misleading to publish estimates. To establish a control group could jeopardise individuals’ current and future employment by restricting access to the programme and support for a sizeable number of people in the short to medium term.