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Whitehall will outline plans to overhaul local employment programmes alongside the Budget next month, LocalGov has learned. Local government minister, John Healey, this week revealed the CLG, Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions were assessing ways to implement Steve Houghton's suggested reform of employment and skills programmes, to make them more effective during the recession. Mr Houghton, leader of Barnsley, last week published a CLG-commissioned review, setting out practical measures to help councils tackle rising rates of ‘worklessness' or long-term unemployment. As well as urging councils to undertake emergency ‘stock takes' of local employment rates by this summer, Mr Houghton recommended streamlining financial support from central and local government, reform of skills programmes, and an increase in council apprenticeships. Mr Healey told LocalGov.co.uk that some of the recommendations would feature in chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget, set for 22 April. ‘The report presents a powerful case to simplify the planning, commissioning, funding and management of work and skills support programmes,' he said. ‘We're looking hard in the Government at steps we can take to implement Mr Houghton's recommendations, and we look to prepare a full response alongside the Budget.' The CLG and DWP has already committed £3m to kick-start reforms and establish a national forum – consisting of ministers, council leaders and other local organisations – to discuss the practicalities of implementing Mr Houghton's recommendations. Employment minister, Tony McNulty, said: ‘I fully embrace the central message of the [Houghton] report, that government centrally and locally need to work better to ensure we survive during, and thrive after, the recession.'

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WHITEHALL

MPs to assess reforms for employment strategies

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