§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.
§ Mr. BurtMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may generally give directions to local authorities, among others, or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, in their capacity as employers, as qualifying mortgage lenders and as bodies which may be required to provide information or evidence under the Child Support Act 1991.
More specifically, the majority of his powers to give directions to local authorities, or to otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, relate to the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit. These powers are to be found in:
Sections 5, 6, 75 to 77, 127, 128 and part VIII of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (as amended) andSections 130 to 137 of part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (as amended).My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may also specifically direct local authorities to provide such relevant information about a person's housing benefit or council tax benefit entitlement in accordance with paragraph 2 of schedule 2 to the Child Support Act 1991.