Is devolution a good idea and how can we make it work?

We know that choice has an impact on people’s wellbeing, so in general services should be devolved as much as possible, subject to the following conditions:

• Economies of scale can mean some services are far cheaper to deliver via a ‘one size fits all’ model, rather than every community ‘reinventing the wheel’. This might come about because specialised equipment or expertise is required. However, this should not be a total road block. Modern IT allows for more devolution, and often economies of scale can be overcome by providing a core central service while allowing for local customisation.

• Minimum standards must be maintained. All our citizens must have access to quality public services, such as health and education. Some communities may not have the capability to deliver their own services immediately. This capability needs to be built, rather than devolving the service and watching them fail. Devolution must be evaluated to ensure everyone gets a fair go.