§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions have taken place between the Benefits Agency and local authorities over the past year with regard to the preparation of a national service level agreement; and what effects contacts have had in speeding up the payment of housing benefits.
§ Mr. BurtFollowing consultations involving this Department, the Benefits Agency and the local authority associations, a national model liaison service level agreement was signed on 12 November 1992. The national model is now being used by Benefit Agency district managers and local authorities as the framework for formulating local agreements throughout the country. A copy of the relevant circular to local authorities is in the Library.
It is too early to say what effect agreements are having on speeding up the payment of housing benefit. Many local agreements were only finalised in March this year. I understand that negotiations are continuing in a few cases. A joint exercise involving the Benefits Agency and the local authority associations to assess the effectiveness of the agreements is planned for late 1993.