More should be done to open up public services to the voluntary sector in Scotland, the Prime Minister admitted in Parliament yesterday when confronted by MP for Edinburgh East, Sheila Gilmore, on the matter of the Work Programme.

The “much-trumpeted” Work Programme will see only an 8 per cent voluntary sector component in Scotland, she advised, asking “Does (David Cameron’s) Big Society not apply in Scotland?”

While Cameron conceded that Gilmore’s figure was correct, he advised that further down the chain – in the subcontracting arrangements – “she will see bigger and better opportunities for the voluntary sector”.

But, the Prime Minister added: “If she is saying that we should be doing even more to open up public services to voluntary and other providers, then absolutely yes.”

Announcing the prime contractors for the Work Programme in April, the Department for Work and Pensions advised that there are 289 voluntary sector organisations that will be sub-contracted through the scheme. The Department would not, however, release figures on what number would be sub-contracted in Scotland as "the contracts have not been signed yet".

There are 18 regions within the Work Programme each with at least two prime contractors. Scotland is one region with two private companies, Igneus UK Lts and Working Links, chosen as preferred bidders.

The estimated overall value of contracts in the Work Programme is between £0.3bn and £3bn per year.