23
Accepted
Developing new evidence for claimant support via randomised control trials proves challenging and lengthy.
Conclusion
We asked the Department why its evidence base for its current model for supporting claimants is so old. The Department told us it is challenging to develop a new evidence base using randomised control trials, which it describes as the gold standard, bearing in mind how long it takes to carry out the trials and get the results.51
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and states the recommendation is implemented, confirming its commitment to refreshing its evidence base through ongoing Universal Credit trials, with findings to be published by the end of 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The department is committed to refreshing its evidence base and recently published its Evidence and Evaluation Strategy 2025. Goal 1 outlines how research and evaluation will inform our Labour Market reforms. 4.3 The Get Britain Working White Paper outlined that the department is running two Universal Credit trials to understand the impact on claimant employment outcomes of: • work search review meetings using different channels, • fewer work search review meetings for the first 13 weeks. 4.4 The trials are being evaluated via impact and process evaluations. Findings will be published by the end of 2026, after trials have completed and supporting analysis has taken place. Consideration will then be given to how the department can continuously learn, to deliver future service improvements and efficiencies as part of a wider Jobs and Careers Service Evaluation Strategy, which is under development.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry
Jobcentres
Report
36th Report - Jobcentres
02 Jul 2025
HC 823
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
1.1 yr
Report published
02 Jul 2025