[holding answer 20 April 2009]: The Code of Conduct is an integral part of the Department for Work and Pensions Commissioning Strategy which was published in February 2008. Although both the Strategy and supporting Code were published by the time Pathways contracts were implemented, the procurement process did not include formal compliance with the Code, as was subsequently the case with the flexible New Deal.
Flexible New Deal will be the first provision commissioned fully under the Commissioning Strategy. Wherever possible, the Department has been working to the standards set out in the Strategy in advance of flexible New Deal implementation. Although the Code of Conduct formally forms part of the flexible New Deal contracts, the principles of the Code apply to all our supply chains.
Effective working arrangements between prime contractors and their sub-contractors are important to the Department in the delivery of Provider Led Pathways. All providers and their sub-contractors have a routeway for any complaints via the Department for Work Pensions website direct to the supplier inquiry team. We currently do not classify complaints by whether they are from providers or subcontractors but deal with them on an individual basis.