§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the pilot schemes announced since 1 May by her Department that involve local authorities in a lead or partnership capacity; if she will list each of the local authorities involved in each case; and what revenue and capital funding each local authority will receive through the pilot in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–2001. [45338]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyLocal Authorities have an important role to play in the development of a Social Security system that promotes the wider aims of welfare reform work.
Also, in my Written Answer on 15 May 1998, Official Report, column 124, we announced that the Department had begun two prototypes to test integrated service delivery, in partnership with Camden local authority and Lewisham local authority (LA).
The Camden prototype aims to provide a single point of contact to lone parents who are claiming Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and who make applications for child support. Camden will not receive revenue or capital funding as the prototype is reciprocal and aims to provide benefits to both partners as well as for the lone parents themselves.
The Lewisham prototype aims to provide better sharing of information and will provide an integrated service to customers by the co-ordination of visits to this Department's and LA customers and the provision of advice and information from central points within the borough.
During 1997–98, Lewisham received funding of £73,500. £19,000 of this amount was required for the implementation of video-conferencing links between the Benefits Agency (BA), the Local Authority and Public Video Booths. The remainder was required for information technology development, project management, communications and training costs. A similar bid has been submitted for 1998–99 and is currently under consideration.
No other specific initiatives have been announced since these, although Local Authorities can apply for funding to be provided in relation to a number of initiatives. These include, for example, funding to assist with the resourcing of fraud investigation work, joint BA/LA anti-fraud activities and improved liaison/information sharing (e.g. installation of terminals with access to this Department's systems within LAs).