Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 12040 on Universal Credit, if she will extend data sharing to include the details of (a) addresses receiving housing allowance and (b) people receiving that allowance living in private rented accommodation to local authorities with selective licencing schemes.
DWP already shares UC data with Local Authorities for various reasons 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.
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 works closely with DLUHC on housing quality, whilst in principle we are willing to consider whether UC data could be shared with Local Authorities for selective licensing purposes or other Private Rented Sector enforcement measures, we would need to see a detailed proposal and would make decisions on a case-by-case basis.