Welfare Reform Bill

We are integrating the housing benefit process into the universal credit. Clearly, local authorities are and have been a key part of that process. We want to ensure that we build on whatever they have done rather than lose it. We take seriously the points that the noble Baroness made in her very good speech on this matter last week, and we are determined to get them right. Amendment 71A would impose an obligation on DWP to transfer any staff from local authorities under the TUPE rules. It is too early at this stage of the programme to detail the resource requirements for universal credit and the single fraud investigation service. As we work through the detail, we will continue to work closely with local authorities to consider the impact on existing staff. Similarly, Amendment 71B would require DWP to compensate local authorities for any costs incurred owing to the transfer of support for housing costs to DWP. We are working with DCLG, the devolved Administrations and the local authority associations to bracket the full impact of these changes, but we have every intention of complying with the spirit of the new burdens doctrine set out by the Cabinet Office earlier this year, which states that any new burdens on local authorities must be fully funded by the relevant department. We will certainly not seek to impose any undue burdens on local taxpayers. Finally, Amendment 103A would require us to consult local authorities and other interested parties on the removal of prosecution powers from authorities administering housing benefit or council tax benefit. We are already consulting fully on these measures. We have recently conducted a consultation exercise seeking local authorities’ views which will inform the design of the new single fraud investigation service. The consultation paper outlined a number of options which would result in different implementation and running costs. Once an option has been chosen and design work begins, we will be in a position to calculate the costs and other impacts. The noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, questioned me about the support for those who will not be able to access the online offer. Clearly, we will be developing a variety of ways into the system for people who have different capabilities. I am myself particularly worried about those who may have learning disabilities and are not used to using computers. We need to ensure that people in that category, who may have registered representatives, are addressed. We are addressing those issues. It is an important point which I fully accept. We will continue to consult as these plans develop further. We will discuss and agree the best way to implement these changes. I hope that with this explanation, although I acknowledge that I have not described the whole of the universal credit, as it develops—wait until November 3—the noble Lord will withdraw his amendment.