London Councils has named securing devolution of the apprenticeship levy to its boroughs to fund skills and employment activity as a key short-term priority.

A report to the latest meeting of London Councils' leaders' committee said the current rules and restrictions over the low-profile levy - a tax paid by employers with annual payrolls of £3m or more at a rate of 0.5% above that threshold - meant it was ‘not being used as effectively as it could be'.