§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 298, which local authorities have contracted out aspects of their benefit administration; and which are considering doing so.
§ Mr. BurtEast Cambridgeshire district council and the London borough of Bromley have contracted out all aspects of their housing benefit and council tax administration which are permissible in current legislation; the district councils of Rutland and Mendip are in the process of doing so. No other authorities have yet come forward in response to the Department's request to notify us of positive intentions in this area.