Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
DWP implements machinery of government changes for skills, including staff and budget transfers.
Conclusion
The Department told us that, at one level, machinery of government changes were straightforward because one could announce them; but, at another level, there was a lot of detailed delivery work that needed to happen. It said that it was bringing over officials from the Department for Education into the Department for Work and Pensions, and the two departments were creating a joint unit to support the Minister for Skills. Budgets would formally transfer at the main estimates for the next financial year, and the Permanent Secretaries for the two departments had shared letters to clarify accounting officer responsibilities while they worked through the detail. The Department noted that a key thing to work out would be how it could ensure that Skills England focused its work on the needs of the economy, and how it could use labour market initiatives to underpin that.12
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of access to education and skills and has transferred responsibility for adult skills and careers to DWP to create a single government lead. It outlines the plan for the Jobs and Careers Service.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2026 1.2 The government laid out its ambition for greater access to education and skills through the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. The White Paper aims to reform the Post-16 education and skills system so that it supports the development of the skilled workforce and our economy needs. The transfer of responsibility for adult skills and careers from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions (the department) on 16 September 2025 has created a single government lead on work and training for adults, bringing together employment support and skills development in one place. 1.3 The Jobs and Careers Service (JCS) will be a new single and universal service, providing a stronger focus on skills and careers. By incorporating its new responsibilities, including into the JCS, the department is creating a more coherent and employment-focussed skills system. A key milestone is the bringing together of the National Careers Service with Jobcentre Plus from 1 October 2026. 1.4 As the new service is being developed, the department will look to incorporate information on users’ skills and available provision to signpost people to training where they have gaps that need addressing before they can get into or progress at work. 1.5 The department will publish an update in Spring 2026 in response to the “Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres” (September 2025) report of the Work and Pensions Select Committee. This will set out further detail on how the department plans to integrate skills in the Jobs and Careers Service.