§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what changes to Housing Benefit have been proposed by the Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement Project; and what plans he has to implement them; [108614]
(2) on what date he will publish the report of the Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement Project. [108605]
§ Angela EagleThe Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement Project was set up with local authority representatives to look at ways of simplifying and improving the delivery of Housing Benefit. The work of the project is being carried forward in a number of ways, including initiatives in this year's spending review. The planned Housing Green Paper will also address issues highlighted by the project work. There are no plans to publish a report of the project.
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§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what comparative research his Department has undertaken into the performance standards of local authority housing benefit administration and that provided by private sector contractors; [108987]
(2) what advice is offered by his Department to local authorities on dealing with private sector providers of housing benefit administration services which fail to achieve agreed performance standards. [108986]
§ Angela EagleThe Department has not undertaken comparative studies of the performance standards of local authorities' administration of Housing Benefit and that provided by private sector contractors.
The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate will collect information on standards of administration across all authorities in the course of its inspection cycle. No advice has been offered to authorities specifically on how to deal with private providers who fail to achieve agreed performance standards as these are matters for local decision in the light of available evidence. However, in August 1998, the Department issued to all local authorities good practice guidance on the preparation of Housing Benefit administration for competitive tendering.
§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will assess the benefits of removing scrutiny of the effectiveness of housing benefit administration from the remit of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate and setting up a separate agency to focus on aspects other than fraud. [108985]
§ Angela EagleWe attach great importance to there being a comprehensive end-to-end review of local authorities' Housing Benefit operations in which the effectiveness of both benefit administration and counter-fraud work are complementary factors in the assessment of overall performance.
The responsibility of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is to report on the administration of Social Security across both central government agencies and local authorities, with a particular emphasis on standards of counter-fraud and security performance. The Inspectorate's reports on Housing Benefit will continue to reflect the fact that both security and accuracy are at the heart of effective benefit administration.