Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to permit universal credit data to be shared with local authorities operating a selective licensing housing scheme.

DWP is committed to maximising the use of its data, where it is appropriate and legal to do so to meet the primary objectives of:

- reducing fraud and error

- creating the right incentives to get more people into work

- protecting the most vulnerable in our society and

- delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and to the taxpayer

DWP already shares data with Local Authorities where we have legal powers and a legal basis to do so and where the sharing can be done in compliance with all other UK GDPR requirements.