Tensions in Localising Welfare to Work to Britain's Cities

Abstract

The paper explores two interrelated tensions at the heart of UK welfare to work policy: (i) between competition and cooperation in delivering employment services, and (ii) between centralisation and localisation of policy control. It examines their potential impact on employment programmes at the level of the city through the DWPs Cities Strategy and its Commissioning Strategy. At this early stage it appears that while the Cities Strategy is building capacity for local planning and management, the contracting out of DWPs own programmes is centralised and prioritises competition rather than local integration and alignment. It remains to be seen whether the two approaches can be brought together pragmatically on the ground to deliver better services and get welfare to work, particularly in the difficult current economic climate.