Advance to Work and Advance Plus: Transfer of Scheme from Education, Sport and Culture to Social Security

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A decision made 29 June 2012:

Subject:	Transfer of Advance to Work and Advance Plus from ESC to Social Security
Decision Summary:	MD-ESC-2012-0014	Date of Decision Summary:		19th June 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Lynne Haws ESC Finance Manager	Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?		Public
Type of Report Oral or Written):	Written	Person Giving Oral Report:		N/A
Written Report Title:	Transfer of Advance to Work and Advance Plus to Social Security	Date of Written Report:		19th June 2012
Written Report Author:	Lynne Haws ESC Finance Manager	Written Report: Public or Exempt		Public
Subject:	Transfer of Advance to Work and Advance Plus from ESC to Social Security from September 2012 as part the Back to Work Scheme on a permanent and recurring basis
Decision(s): The Minister approved the transfer of the accounting responsibility for Advance to Work and Advance Plus from ESC to Social Security with effect from 1st September 2012. The transfer is permanent and recurring. No funding is being transferred in 2012 as this will be provided from the Social Security Back to Work project. Further funds of £950,000 included in the ESC base growth allocated MTFP are transferred to Social Security. The scheme is proposed to be extended as part of the growth proposals for 2013 to 2015 and will be funded from Social Security
Reason(s) for decision: The decision was taken to ensure that all projects that fall under the remit of the Back to Work project team sit in the same department, in order to have consistent treatment and approach across all schemes
Resource Implications : There are no budgetary implications for 2012 and the MTFP will reflect the move as a service transfer with £950,000 budget move from ESC to Social Security in 2013. An FTE of 18/ Headcount of 20 will move to Social Security from ESC.
Action required:
Signature:			Position:
Date Signed:			Date of Decision:

Advance to Work and Advance Plus: Transfer of Scheme from Education, Sport and Culture to Social Security

Education, sport & culture MINISTER

Service Transfer

Purpose of Report

For the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture to approve the service transfer of Advance to Work and Advance Plus to Social Security under the Back to Work project.

Background

The ATW and Advance Plus schemes were introduced as part of Fiscal Stimulus, which was a States-wide initiative to cope with the recession and with the objective of delivering initiatives which would be targeted, timely and temporary. As Fiscal Stimulus is now concluding, those schemes which are thought appropriate and will continue to support the States strategic priority to “Get People into Work” are being maintained. These schemes are to be provided with permanent and recurring funding in the appropriate departments as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

In respect of ATW and Advance Plus this will involve the transfer to Social Security from ESC in September 2012.

Funding for the remainder of 2012 is being provided as part of the Back to Work project. Recurring funding for the existing level of these schemes was committed in the 2012 Business Plan and is being provided in the MTFP from 2013 onwards, this amounts to £950,000 in 2013. Social Security have been awarded Growth Funding to enhance both schemes from 2013

The related Fiscal stimulus projects of Highlands additional students and Careers strengthening will remain in ESC and funding is provided in the MTFP as appropriate.

Recommendation

That the Minister for Education, Sport & Culture approves the permanent transfer of Advance to Work and Advance Plus to Social Security from 1st September 2012. There are no budget implications in 2012. The approval of the MTFP proposals will provide the required recurring funding for future years.