Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude has said that the charity sector will receive more than £100m per year under the current Work Programme run by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). 

The Work Programme, due to start in June, involves 18 prime contracters, two of which are charities. Around 289 charities are sub-contracted according to the DWP, but a full list has not been released.

Speaking at Cabinet Office questions in the House of Commons yesterday, Maude said government estimated that 30 to 40 per cent of the value of work under the Work Programme will go to the voluntary sector:

“We believe this will be worth in excess of £100m per year,” he said, in response to a question on improving access to public contracts for small charities.

Public Services White Paper

Maude was also questioned on delays to the Public Services White Paper by shadow Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell.

The Public Service Reform White Paper is proposing the opening up of public services to new providers and bringing in private resource and expertise to support reform.

Jowell said to Maude: “The Public Services White Paper was commissioned last October, to be out in the new year? Has the government given up on it?”

Maude told Jowell the government was still committed to it and it would be “well worth the wait”:

“I’m glad you are waiting for it with such excitement,” he said. “It will come out this summer. And I’m sure you will be delighted with it.”

The Modernising Commissioning Green Paper that was supposed to inform the White Paper, drew loud complaints from the charity sector last year because the consultation period was only for one month and included the Christmas/new year break.