The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published research on the impact of devolution on the most disadvantaged people and places which shows that despite falling poverty and improving employment levels in the devolved countries, most significant progress has been down to reserved (UK) powers.

To coincide with ten years of devolution, JRF commissioned a series of reports to explore trends in social and economic disadvantage and policy developments in four key areas: housing and homelessness; employment; neighbourhood regeneration and long-term care for older people.

Key findings for Wales included that:

• Wales was the most improved part of the UK on infant mortality over the decade;
• Wales had the second best reduction in the number of working age people without educational qualifications (down 8%), faster than the other devolved countries.

Further information is available on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website.