Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South Yorkshire, argues devolution is the “best long-term way of bringing down the country’s benefits bill”.
And Bev Craig, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, backed the report and said her authority had long made the case for a “more joined-up, locally led approach”.
A Government spokesperson said: “The Milburn Review will lay the foundation for sustainable reform, and we will not pre-empt its findings.
“That said, the Prime Minister has been clear that we should give power to local leaders who know their communities best and we are already devolving employment support through Trailblazers, our Connect to Work scheme and our Youth Hubs which are delivered in partnership with local organisations.
“We are also improving Jobcentres to create a more personalised work and skills advice service, supporting more people of all ages into work.”

