CONTRACTING OUT OF WELFARE PROVISION

That this House notes the provisions within the Welfare Reform Bill for the contracting out of functions carried out by Jobcentre Plus; further notes that reports last year from the National Audit Office, Public Administration Select Committee and Child Poverty Action Group all found little or no evidence to support contracting out welfare to the private or voluntary sector; welcomes the statement in the Welfare Green Paper that Jobcentre Plus is recognised as one of the best back-to-work agencies in the world; further notes that the most recent phase of contracting out in the Department for Work and Pensions saw 33 out of 34 contracts being awarded to the private sector; further notes with concern the proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill further to outsource welfare provision on a payment by results basis; believes there is no evidence that it will improve services for claimants and that it will damage the morale of Jobcentre Plus employees; and calls on the Government to abandon provisions with the Welfare Reform Bill for the contracting out of welfare services.