Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Rejected
Ministerial responsibility for labour market policy remains fragmented across Whitehall.
Conclusion
Ministerial responsibility for labour market policy is fragmented across Whitehall departments. We therefore call on the Government to consider the following: a) establish a Ministry of Labour b) appoint a new Minister of State for Labour in the Cabinet Office with the authority to convene and coordinate labour market policy across Whitehall c) establish a Cabinet Committee on Labour, chaired by a Business and Trade Minister, which convenes each relevant Minister from each relevant Department on labour market policy. (Paragraph 20) AI & Tech
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that new departmental structures established in February 2023 (including the Department for Business and Trade) are considered effective for labour market policy and delivery. It explicitly states it does not feel it necessary to further alter the machinery of government.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
In February 2023, departmental structures were changed to reflect the Prime Minister’s priorities (including for the labour market and wider economy) and to better deliver economic growth for the British people. The new Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is focussed on five priorities: • Removing barriers to business; • Helping UK business to grow by selling their products overseas; • Making the UK the top investment destination in Europe; • Attracting and retaining the industries of the future; and • Defending free trade. DBT, as a successor to BEIS, retains extensive links across Whitehall that facilitate effective and collaborative working to ensure the UK labour market is as strong and effective as possible. These links exist at both ministerial and official level and can be demonstrated most recently through the extensive cross-Government work aimed at increasing workforce participation. Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Government Response 3 The Government believes the structures now in place will drive effective labour market policy and delivery, and that maintaining separate domains of departmental knowledge and expertise is an essential component of that delivery. Therefore, we do not feel it necessary to further alter the machinery of Government. AI and Tech