To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons vulnerable adults will only have continued support if they sign the data transfer form; and what advice she has taken on the compatibility of this practice with (a) the Human Rights Act 1998 and (b) other anti-discrimination legislation. (320749)

The Work Choice programme guarantees a place for every WORKSTEP customer who chooses to transfer when the new programme commences in October 2010. We will work closely with all WORKSTEP customers to ensure they feel able to give their consent to give the incoming provider the information they need to be able to put the right support in place.

Before Work Choice begins in October the new prime providers will not only have to undertake all the usual activities to set up and prepare their business but will also be under a contractual obligation to understand the often complex employment support needs of up to 14,000 current WORKSTEP customers that will transfer to them.

To enable them to do this, Department for Work and Pensions officials have developed a process to transfer only the necessary minimum customer data from existing providers to incoming prime providers. The process and a supporting data transfer form have been developed in consultation with existing providers, bidders, the Department for Work and Pensions Provision Forum Work Choice Sub-group and the British Association for Supported Employment.

The critical part of the process is for the customer to give their informed consent. They will be invited to do so by their current provider and will be advised that they can withdraw their consent at any time up to 14 days later.

We expect the great majority of customers to give their consent. But any customers who express doubt about whether or not they should give their consent will be able to speak to a Disability Employment Adviser in Jobcentre Plus. If the customer is not reassured by, or if they do not wish to speak with the adviser, they will still be able to move to Work Choice.

In those exceptional cases the current and future providers will agree a convenient time and place where the new provider can discuss with the customer the personal information that the new provider needs to effectively support the customer and to administer the programme.

At all stages during the development of the data transfer process, the Work Choice project has been advised by solicitors in the Department's Legal Group to ensure that the process is compliant with all relevant legislation.