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Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will allow an open tender for the delivery of housingbenefit in Swale; [129189](2) if he will send an emergency team to Swale borough council to resolve delays in housing benefit. [129188]Mr. Pond: Local authorities are statutory independent bodies responsible for the administration of housing benefit. A decision tooffer 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 inprescribed circumstances, namely when: the authority has failed to meet the standards of administration set out in a previouslyissued direction; or the authority is failing to meet the requirements of the legislation relating to Best Value, particularly whereit 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 lendappropriate support to, struggling authorities in order to achieve sustained improvement. In line with this policy, our DepartmentalHelp Team, a multi disciplinary team of management consultants and benefits practitioners who, by invitation, work with authoritiesexperiencing difficulties, is due to visit Swale borough council on 29 September. |