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Whitehall must quickly assess the changes required at national level to bring about an effective devolution of welfare powers, the LGA's programme director has told The MJ. Support for devolved welfare policy continued to snowball this week, with Conservative shadow Treasury minister, Phillip Hammond, senior county councillors and London's boroughs all outlining separate visions for a future system of localised employment and benefits programmes. It follows the Labour Government's successful partnership with councils to tackle unemployment hotspots through the Future Jobs Fund. Total Place experiments with devolved policy and administrative structures, could also inform a pre-general election battle over welfare policy. Politicians of all hues increasingly believe devolved welfare programmes could be more effective at identifying and sustaining work for local residents and supporting the unemployed. The national Jobcentre Plus agency currently has oversight of most welfare and employment schemes, but experts have suggested localised benefits and skills programmes could also offer better value for money. But Paul Raynes, the LGA programme director who has led local government's call for welfare oversight, this week warned Whitehall must first create the most appropriate framework for the provision of localised services – or any devolution plans could be stymied. He told The MJ: ‘We've seen and heard a lot more thinking about the local agenda for welfare. But one of the things to think about now is what would have to change at national level to make this happen – what must change at national level, for example, to free up a local Jobcentre Plus manager to be effective locally?' LGA officials believe local government now has a compelling case for devolved welfare. But they also acknowledge the centralised benefits payment system, for example, creates some financial advantages through economies of scale. Overcoming administrative challenges to devolution are not insurmountable, Mr Raynes said, but required ‘clear action' from Whitehall and local government.

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WHITEHALL

LGA seeks devolved powers for welfare

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