Minister accused over work programme

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A cabinet minister has refuted a claim that Chris Grayling broke the ministerial code.

At Scotland questions today John Robertson (Lab, Glasgow NW) claimed Grayling, the employment minister, broke the code when he awarded contracts for the Work programme in Scotland.

Scotland secretary Michael Moore said Graying "absolutely refutes" the charge.

"As with any other instance in which people think something inappropriate is happening, there are appropriate channels through which it can be pursued," he told MPs.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford (SNP, Banff and Buchan) said there is "unease" about the tendering process for the programme - the target of 30 per cent of subcontracts going to the voluntary sector has been missed.

"The successful bids commit to a mere 8 per cent and 6 per cent voluntary sector delivery respectively," she said.

"I hope that the secretary of state shares my concern, and my question to him is simple: what went wrong?"

Moore said the Work programme is "a step change in the provision of support for people to get back into work".

He said bids were measured against the criteria set out in the tender document.

Shadow Scotland secretary Ann McKechin said the voluntary sector has suffered "a massive drop in income as a result of the Work programme".

She called for a new future jobs fund for Scotland.

Moore said youth unemployment rose under the last government and it is important to "engage" the voluntary sector in solving the problem.

Mike Weir (SNP, Angus) said new taxes on the oil and gas industry are putting 50,000 jobs in jeapordy.

Scotland minister David Mundell said Weir had repeatedly raised the high cost of petrol in the House.

"It is clear that the chancellor and the chief secretary got the balance right in the budget between the taxation of the oil industry and the taxation of the motorist," he said.

"If the honorable gentleman wants to tell his constituents that they should be paying 6p a litre more on their fuel, he is welcome to do so."