§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) who he recommended as preferred suppliers for the software package required by local authorities for housing benefit; [129186]
(2) whether he considered a single software package provider for local authorities with respect to housing benefit. [129187]
§ Mr. PondLocal authorities have statutory responsibility for the administration of housing benefit, and have complete autonomy to select and contract with the software provider of their choice. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for the Department to consider a single software provider or recommend a preferred supplier.
We do, however, provide local authorities with good practice advice in the management of contracts with software providers.
§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will allow an open tender for the delivery of housing benefit in Swale; [129189]
(2) if he will send an emergency team to Swale borough council to resolve delays in housing benefit. [129188]
§ Mr. PondLocal authorities are statutory independent bodies responsible for the administration of housing benefit. A decision to offer the delivery of housing benefit for tender is ordinarily a matter for the individual authority.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has powers to direct an authority to put its benefits administration out to tender in prescribed circumstances, namely when: the authority has failed to meet the standards of administration set out in a previously issued direction; or the authority is failing to meet the requirements of the legislation relating to Best Value, particularly where it is failing to put in place the necessary steps to improve its benefits administration.
However, these powers would only be used as a matter of last resort. The Government's policy is to work with, and to lend appropriate support to, struggling authorities in order to achieve sustained improvement. In line with this policy, our Departmental Help Team, a multi disciplinary team of management consultants and benefits practitioners who, by invitation, work with authorities experiencing difficulties, is due to visit Swale borough council on 29 September.
§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local authorities who distribute housing benefit have contracts with Capita. [129190]
§ Mr. PondSeven local authorities contract out their benefit administration to Capita. In addition, Capita also offers a range of other services to local authorities; however, a record of those contracts is not held centrally.