Government hits back at fears plan to give cities greater control over welfare delivery could open doors to regional benefits
The UK Government has stamped on suggestions that support
for schemes which give cities new control over the delivery of welfare could
pave the way for the introduction of regional benefits.
The Welsh Government last week responded to Mr Clegg’s call for an end to a “culture of the levers being pulled in London” by vowing to “oppose any moves towards regional benefits”.
Conservative Wales Office minister Stephen Crabb said: “Regional benefits are not under consideration.”
He said the coalition had “a very well defined welfare reform programme” that would “bring benefits to all parts of the UK”.
A senior Liberal Democrat coalition source said that the push for a bold decentralisation of the welfare system had “absolutely nothing to do with regional benefits”.
Referring to new schemes that have been launched, the source said: “The pilot schemes being set up in Sheffield and Manchester [are] designed to give more powers to cities and devolved authorities over how they help people back into work. This gives them greater flexibility with how they spend money from schemes such as the Work Programme and the Youth Contract.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with regional benefits. It never has and never will.
“In Sheffield it’s about opportunities for young people finding work, and in Manchester it is for people on ESA. It gives councils the power to determine for themselves how to help individuals, give tailored support, and take into account local factors.
Wales Online
The Welsh Government last week responded to Mr Clegg’s call for an end to a “culture of the levers being pulled in London” by vowing to “oppose any moves towards regional benefits”.
Conservative Wales Office minister Stephen Crabb said: “Regional benefits are not under consideration.”
He said the coalition had “a very well defined welfare reform programme” that would “bring benefits to all parts of the UK”.
A senior Liberal Democrat coalition source said that the push for a bold decentralisation of the welfare system had “absolutely nothing to do with regional benefits”.
Referring to new schemes that have been launched, the source said: “The pilot schemes being set up in Sheffield and Manchester [are] designed to give more powers to cities and devolved authorities over how they help people back into work. This gives them greater flexibility with how they spend money from schemes such as the Work Programme and the Youth Contract.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with regional benefits. It never has and never will.
“In Sheffield it’s about opportunities for young people finding work, and in Manchester it is for people on ESA. It gives councils the power to determine for themselves how to help individuals, give tailored support, and take into account local factors.
Wales Online
