We reported recently that A4e were happy to publicise the fact that they had a presence at all the party conferences this year. The latest edition of Private Eye reveals that last year, 2012, they were there with a very specific purpose - to lobby on the Transforming Rehabilitation contracts (that's the outsourcing of the probation services). Remember that lobbying means getting access to the decision-makers to push for the business you want. And last year what A4e wanted was to change the contracts to reduce the initial risk carried by the private companies and reduce the penalties for missing targets. Along with other WP providers, they asked for meetings with Ministry of Justice ministers. A senior civil servant, Jenny Giblett, advised against this meeting. It wouldn't look good, given the "reputational damage" suffered by A4e over the fraud allegations. Chris Grayling and two other ministers heeded the advice. But A4e (or their lobbyist) took advantage of the Lib Dem conference to get at Lord McNally, another minister, who agreed to a meeting. The civil servants were in a bit of a panic, and wanted to ensure that McNally was told exactly why it was a bad idea. But the meeting went ahead; A4e gained access ahead of its rivals.
It's not clear whether they got any advantage from this. But it's revealing that government thought that the company was so tainted that the normal lobbyists' contacts should be avoided.
It does show that regardless of what is said(D. Blunkett) this is not about what is right for the people that the Programme is suppose to help,rather it is more to justify throwing more Taxpayer money at a failing ideal that has failed time and again and is costing more than the problem that is meant to solve....Diabolical!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear someone is paying attentio,. I have some experience of a charity (SOVA) who work with offenders delivering education in prison and to ex-offenders in my local community. Charities and not private companies should be providing these kind of services.
ReplyDeleteThey will be. But it will be as sub-contractors to one of the big companies.
DeleteI have come to a very confusing conclusion regarding both the WP and the JCP,why do they have such a dislike for the unemployed? Rather than be encouraging and helpful,I have experienced a culture of half truths and outright lies that are there to leave you open to sanctions. The "Claimant Count" has dropped,this is a misnomer as it is not stated how many people have been sanctioned or died,once again manipulating statistics.
ReplyDeleteThey must hate people for some reason or another as my claim was closed recently because I "failed to sign my declaration" when I know full well that I did. I sign on at my local A4e office and have done for the last few months now and then this comes up out of the blue. Now I'm having to go through the rapid reclaim process just because some pencil neck paper pusher "miss placed" my signing on evidence and job search sheet!!
DeleteI'm still really annoyed at how this could have happened. They've basically blamed me for something that was clearly THEIR FAULT, NOT MINE!!
I have started to bring in a folder full of every document relating to the WP and JCP after a doubt was raised concerning my job search,now I explain in detail how I have applied for each position,backed up by a daily log and a print out of the UJM. My benefit was not in on the usual day,I called (using the fax number and adding up 1 digit to avoid 0845) and they fixed it,but I have requested a letter of explanation,the clerk got very angry at this and I had to submit a request in writing,am I doing this to wind the up? Yes/No I am willing to play by their rules.but I will insist that they follow them also and most do not have a clue.
DeleteChallenge it.
DeleteAt the Napo( Probation Union) AGM held at Llandudno 17 -19 th October an emergency motion was passed unanimously which called on Lord McNally to resign in view of the above breach of parliamentary rules relating to the conflict of interest arising from the meetings with A4E and his role in promoting the Coalition Government's TR reforms! and the opening up of a public probation service to other providers including A4E... He responded in a recent fringe meeting at party conference in response to Napo's well founded TR concerns with a dismissive .. ' get real ' put down.. perhaps he will take the honourable next step......' & STEP DOWN?
ReplyDeleteapologies if this doesn't relate to the topic, but i just signed on for the first time in about 18 months today and was blown away by the change in experience.
ReplyDeletei have to take 35 steps a week to find work and on top of that, have to phone 8 employers a day, write 8 speculative letters a day [emails won't suffice apparently] visit 8 employers a day to hand in copies of my CV and spend at least 1hr 30 logged into universal jobmatch... which is basically a massive list of scam vacancies and self employed sales roles.
is this madness normal now, or have i done something to anger the unemployment gods? i have been in work for 18 months so expected something a little lighter to begin with... usually they don't start tightening the screws until you have been out of work a few months.
thanks in advance to anyone that wants to respond.