Mapping the Governance Reform of Welfare to Work in Britain Under New Labor

Abstract

This article draws on Newman's (2001, 2007) typology of the modernization of governance under New Labor, to examine the development of British welfare to work administration. Concentrating on the delivery of active labor market policy, the article suggests network forms of governance occupy a marginal role in welfare to work delivery. Managerialist and hierarchical forms of governance dominate administration of activation policy. In accordance with UK tradition, a national centralized, top down system exercises control of social security and employment services administration, but increasingly seeks to realize its goals through a market system of delivery.

Keywords:

• United Kingdom
• welfare reform
• New Labor
• employment service
• marketization

Notes

¹A partial exception is the case of Northern Ireland. Here the Executive enjoys power to vary employment policy from the rest of the UK, and theoretically has the authority to eschew parity with social security benefits in Great Britain. The exercise of this authority is though subject to negotiation with HM Treasury and budgetary constraints. Refer to McLaughlin (2005) for more details.

²Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Invalid Care Allowance (see DWP, 2002).

³It is not my intention to consider in detail these issues here. For further discussion of ONE performance refer to (DWP, 2003; James, 2003; Work and Pensions Select Committee, 2002).