This week, during Work and Pensions questions, Mr Bradley discussed the opportunities devolution could bring to towns, such as Mansfield, that have specific local requirements when it comes to tackling economic activity.
The Mansfield MP highlighted the opportunities of “building bespoke local schemes with local employers and training providers, and the opportunities from those relationships on a local level as part of a wider strategy within the region”. He then went on to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, his stance on devolving decision-making powers in this space down to local areas.
The Secretary of State acknowledged Mr Bradley’s “significant and important point” and assured the Mansfield MP that the Department for Work and Pensions is “engaged in discussions, contingent upon or subsequent to the White Paper that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published on levelling up”. He went on to say that he will ensure they “leverage the knowledge, know-how, expertise and all the resources they have at the local level to continue to bring people back into work”.
Commenting on this Ben Bradley MP said:
“I’m pleased I was able to highlight the importance of ensuring places like Mansfield and the rest of the East Midlands are given the opportunity to get the support we’ve missed out on over the years. Places like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester are over five years ahead of us on this curve, so we have some catching up to do!
“I’m looking forward to us having our East Midlands Combined Authority in place next year so we’ll be able to access extra clout to decide on local plans. This will tackle economic inactivity and bring people back into the workforce.
“By getting things done locally, rather than from a desk in Whitehall, we can work with business and training providers to tackle some of our specific needs and get people trained up for local jobs. It’s a massive opportunity we must grasp with both hands!”
