The Smith Commission accepted all recommendations by the end of November last year but is due to publish its draft legislation on 25 January 2015.
Councillor Andrew Burns, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, has welcomed high-level discussions about the potential early devolution of job creating powers to Scotland.
Cllr Burns was speaking ahead of the draft legislation due at the end of this month.
One of the Smith Commission proposals was to give the Scottish Parliament powers over support for unemployed people through employment programmes currently contracted by the Department of Work and Pensions, when the current commercial arrangements finish.
This would include initiatives such as the ‘Work Programme’ and allow Scottish local authorities to design and operate their own local employment programmes to get people back to work.
Councillor Burns said: “As Council Leader in Scotland’s Capital, I would warmly welcome any early devolution of job creating powers such as the ‘Work Programme’. The City of Edinburgh Council already has significant expertise in this area and has achieved really positive outcomes from current employment programmes like the Edinburgh Guarantee.
“We could very constructively use any devolution of the ‘Work Programme’ to tailor localised arrangements that would be best-suited to our own local circumstances.”
Further details of the Smith Commission Report and the timetable are on the website. We reproduce the Report for you below. What are you hoping for?
Click to access The_Smith_Commission_Report-1-1.pdf
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