A new report says proposals to make local authorities financially responsible for children in penal custody take too narrow a view of what needs to be done. The Howard League for Penal Reform says focusing on the devolution of custodial budgets masks real problems with policy and law.

Read more on REFORMERS QUESTION VALUE OF DEVOLVING CUSTODY BUDGETS TO COUNCILS…

The gap between the educationally privileged and the educationally excluded is getting wider according to figures in the annual survey of adult participation in learning of all kinds, which is published today. The survey, ‘Narrowing Participation’, has been produced by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education as part of Adult Learners’ Week.

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By Dan Finn

Contracting out delivery of welfare to work programmes and paying providers for getting participants into sustained employment is a Government commitment. There is widespread agreement that creating a ‘welfare market’ will lead to service innovation, improved accountability, better job outcomes, and better customer service and value for money. The author looks at similar reforms in countries like Australia and the Netherlands and highlights the downside.

The principles of the British Government’s new delivery strategy will be applied as part of the ‘flexible New Deal’ (fND). From 2009, all long-term unemployed people will be referred for employment assistance to external ‘prime contractors’ paid largely for placing people into sustained employment. Prime contractors will manage local ‘supply chains’ and deliver services directly or through subcontractors.

Read more on WELFARE TO WORK: LESSONS ON CONTRACTING OUT…