Commentary on Sections Benefit fraud Section 48: Local authority functions relating to benefit: information
250.This section provides for a number of changes to the information sharing provisions contained in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 by giving local authorities access to information relating to national benefit offences as well as allowing the Secretary of State to obtain information from them relating to those offences. These changes are of a consequential nature, in that they are necessary to allow the new investigation and prosecution powers to function effectively.
251.Currently, section 122C of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 permits the Secretary of State to disclose information to local authorities for purposes relating to the administration of, and offences against, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Restricted in such a way, local authorities will not have access to information and evidence held by the Department for Work and Pensions relating to national benefit offences. Subsection (1) amends section 122C so as to allow the Secretary of State to disclose to local authorities information relating to national benefit fraud investigations and prosecutions. This extension applies to the investigation and prosecution of benefit offences only, and does not extend his power to supply information to local authorities for administrative purposes more generally. This information may include details about the award and payment of benefits as well as copies of claim forms and other signed declarations.
252.Section 122D of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 allows the Secretary of State to require an authority to provide him with certain information relating to social security or benefit policy. As a result of the measures in the Act, authorities will be able to obtain information relating to national benefit fraud investigations that would be relevant to the Secretary of State in preparing future policy and expenditure estimates for national benefits, but which the Secretary of State could not currently obtain. Subsection (2) amends section 122D so as to permit the Secretary of State to require a local authority to provide him with information it had obtained during the investigation or prosecution of a national benefit offence.
253.Section 122E of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 currently contains a power allowing local authorities to share information amongst them, so long as it is information relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit. Unless this restriction is removed, local authorities will not be able to share information relating to national benefit offences in the same way that they are permitted to share information relating to local benefit offences creating a number of anomalies for the way that local authorities investigate fraud. For example, local authorities could continue to conduct joint investigations into housing benefit fraud but could not work jointly to investigate national benefit offences because they would be prevented from sharing information relating to those offences. Subsection (3) amends section 122E so as to remove this restriction by extending the powers of local authorities to share information with other local authorities for purposes relating to benefit offences more generally. However, they will not be permitted to share such information for general administrative purposes. Subsection (4) makes a consequential amendment to section 126A(8) of the 1992 Act (power to require information from landlords and agents) so that it reflects the provisions of sections 122D and 122E as revised by subsections (2) and (3).