Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 102
We retain our predecessor committee’s scepticism about whether health devolution accurately describes the current arrangements...
Recommendation
We retain our predecessor committee’s scepticism about whether health devolution accurately describes the current arrangements in Greater Manchester. It clearly does not in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We support the recommendations of the Health Devolution Commission on the future of health devolution and the role that should be played by local and combined authorities in the new Integrated Care System. The Government should seek to implement these proposals. It should also explore the merits of establishing a London Health Commissioner to oversee all London health matters, and of devolving the London Ambulance Service.
Paragraph Reference:
102
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Recommendation: The devolution of the adult education budget should be part of the devolution framework, accompanied by transitional support and measures to mitigate differences in course options between areas. The same powers over adult education should be available to all areas with devolution deals. Further education, in particular FE colleges, should also be included in the framework. The Government should work with the Local Government Association to agree proposals as to how local authorities’ oversight of schools and their funding should be strengthened. This should include devolving the functions of the Education and Skills Funding Agency to county councils and combined authorities; and the transfer of the powers held by Regional School Commissioners to local authorities. (Paragraph 108) Government’s response: In 2021/22 approximately 60% of the Adult Education Budget is being devolved to 9 mayoral combined authorities and the Mayor of London, acting where appropriate through the Greater London Authority. These authorities are now responsible for ensuring adult education for their residents and the allocation of the Adult Education Budget to their providers. The Education and Skills Funding Agency is responsible for the remaining Adult Education Budget in non-devolved areas. Government has committed to devolving adult education functions and the associated core Adult Education Budget to new areas as part of new devolution deals, providing the authorities cover functional economic areas, and have the required governance arrangements in place. The Government will continue to work in close partnership with devolved institutions to support their undertaking of education functions and are committed to open dialogue on how best skills provision and reforms can be shaped to the needs of local areas. The Department for Education and the Education and Skills Funding Agency play a vital role in allowing schools and academy trusts to deliver: • Economic growth through improving the skills pipeline, levelling up productivity and supporting people to work; • Levelling up education standards so that children and young people in every part of the country are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications they need; and • Supporting the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people through high-quality local services so that no one is left behind. The Department for Education would encourage further Local Government Association engagement to discuss future funding and oversight and how devolution can play a role alongside the Department and the Education and Skills Funding Agency in meeting key delivery aims. The Department for Education via the Regional School Commissioners and the Education and Skills Funding Agency will continue to play a vital role through: • National-level frameworks, including the National Funding Formula that enable consistent funding and robust oversight of schools; • Oversight and support to Multi-Academy Trusts. As more schools join strong Multi- Academy Trusts which span across Local Authorities and county councils; and • Providing capacity to undertake vital supportive levelling up and regulatory functions for educational, safeguarding and financial performance of schools and academy trusts. There are therefore no plans for the Department for Education to substantially change its functions or powers in relation to the recommendation from the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee report.