Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 2
First Report - DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work
Published 29 Jun 2021
Paragraph 33
Addressed to Department for Work and Pensions
Work and Pensions Committee DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We heard evidence that DWP has not been proactive enough in planning for long- term changes to the world of work, and that it has largely reacted to change instead of planning ahead for a range of different scenarios or developing a long-term strategy. Working with other departments, DWP should develop a strategy for how it intends to respond to long-term changes in the labour market. This should set out how the Department will plan for different possible scenarios. The strategy should include how DWP intends to respond to the impact of new technology on the number of available jobs, the skills needed to perform these jobs, and the differential impact that changes could have between sectors, regions and demographic groups.
From: Work and Pensions Committee, First Report - DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work (HC 216), paragraph 33, 29 June 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 12 November 2021 (deadline 29 August 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government responds mainly by describing existing cross-departmental work, with BEIS, DfE and the ONS cited for several areas, and says it has no plans for Universal Credit claimant markers.
- On the recommended labour market strategy, DWP says it is "working with other departments, particularly DfE and BEIS", and that BEIS "is the department with responsibility for employment rights".
- On the Skills and Employment Survey, it says it is "solely a decision for the academics and ESRC" whether the survey runs again, rather than committing DWP funding.
- On assistive technology, the Disability Unit "will invest up to £1m in 2021 to 2022" in a new Centre for Assistive and Accessible Technology, with findings to the Unit "by March 2022" and progress reported by summer 2022.
- On paternity leave reform, it says BEIS is analysing survey data and 2019 consultation responses, and that this "will inform government policy on parental leave and pay going forward".