Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving employment support services to (a) London boroughs and (b) the Mayor of London.

As part of the English Devolution Trailblazer deeper devolution deals, the Department of Work and Pensions have agreed with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities to test a new approach to design of future Contracted Employment Programmes including co-design and a delegated delivery model, aligned with the Combined Authorities geographical footprint.

We will evaluate the impacts and outcomes of this new approach to further understand the opportunities and risks involved, before considering the Department’s approach to future contracted employment programmes.

Full details of the ‘Trailblazer’ deals can be found here:

Greater Manchester Combined Authority Trailblazer deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

West Midlands Combined Authority: “Trailblazer” deeper devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)