Asked by: Andy Sawford (Labour (Co-op) - Corby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the creation of a Single Fraud Investigation Service on the level of fraud against local authorities.
Answered by Esther McVey
The introduction of single fraud investigation service will ensure that all allegations of local authority welfare benefit fraud are investigated appropriately in accordance with a single policy. As such the SFIS project strengthens the approach to investigating and tackling welfare benefit fraud in local authorities.
Asked by: Andy Sawford (Labour (Co-op) - Corby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from the (a) Local Government Association, (b) Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (c) Welsh Local Government Association on issues of staff protection, finance and timing in relation the proposal to establish a single fraud investigation service.
Answered by Esther McVey
DWP has worked very closely with the Local Government Association, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Welsh Local Government Association throughout the life of the Project and continues to do so. All three organisations hold regular meetings with the Project and also have representatives on the key consultative and governance groups, for example the SFIS Project Steering Committee.
The subject of staff terms and conditions has been discussed and we have assured all our stakeholders that terms and conditions of employment will be protected. This protection will be documented in the transfer order and employees transferring will not be subject to less favourable terms and conditions when they join DWP. This is in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practise for Staff Transfers in the Public Sector.
Asked by: Andy Sawford (Labour (Co-op) - Corby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the level of TUPE contract protection available to fraud staff currently employed by local authorities who will be transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the single fraud investigation service.
Answered by Esther McVey
DWP has considered whether the creation of SFIS falls within the TUPE definitions. The regulations state “…the transfer of administrative functions between public administrative authorities is not a relevant transfer” (for the purpose of TUPE). After careful consideration, DWP has concluded that benefit fraud investigations fall within this category, and as such, TUPE would not apply.
DWP has however, made clear that the success of SFIS is a priority and we intend to transfer staff currently working on fraud investigations from Local Authorities. To effect those transfers, DWP will apply the approach set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice for Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSOP) and staff will transfer under a Statutory Transfer Scheme (STS) as provided for under Section 38 of the Employment Relations Act 1999. In line with COSOP, the terms and conditions for transferring staff will be protected.
Asked by: Andy Sawford (Labour (Co-op) - Corby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on the public funds available to local authorities of the creation of a Single Fraud Investigation Service.
Answered by Esther McVey
The Local Authority Administration Grant for 2014/15 will not be reduced due to the implementation of the Single Fraud Investigation Service. The proposals for 2015/16 and 2016/17 onwards are currently out for consultation with our key stakeholders, including Local Government representative groups.
Asked by: Andy Sawford (Labour (Co-op) - Corby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much in discretionary housing payments has been allocated in Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency for those affected by the under-occupancy penalty in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.
Answered by Steve Webb
Discretionary Housing Payments(DHP) are allocated by Local Authority not parliamentary constituency. The table below details the overall DHP allocation and the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS) element for Corby and East Northhamptonshire local authorities.
Government allocation of DHP by Local authority | 2013/14 |
| 2014/15 |
|
| RSRS | Total DHP | RSRS | Total DHP |
Corby | £25,669 | £92,250 | £92,809 | £134,854 |
East Northamptonshire | £24,304 | £85,490 | £59,253 | £99,565 |