To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received about the suitability of placements offered to people by Skills Training UK in the last 12 months. (195021)

My Department is not aware of any complaints in the last 12 months about the suitability of placements offered by Skills Training UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the (a) safety, (b) suitability and (c) value of placements offered to people by Skills Training UK; and if he will make a statement. (195022)

All welfare to work contractors, including Skills Training UK, are required to meet the quality and delivery standards set out in the contract specification, and are subject to contract management and monitoring by professional and trained procurement staff, in addition to any Ofsted inspection and audit.

The Department's contract management and supplier relationship processes aim to ensure that corrective measures are introduced if the provider does not achieve the level and standard of performance required. This includes the suitability and value of placements and contractual compliance issues, such as the safety of trainees during their placement.