Local Government Act 1999

14 Inspections: housing benefit and council tax benefit

(1) The following shall be substituted for section 139A(1) and (2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (reports on administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit)—

“(1) The Secretary of State may authorise persons to consider and report to him on the administration by authorities of housing benefit and council tax benefit.

(2) The Secretary of State may ask persons authorised under subsection (1) to consider in particular—

(a) authorities' performance in the prevention and detection of fraud relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit;

(b) authorities' compliance with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value).

(2A) A person may be authorised under subsection (1)—

(a) on such terms and for such period as the Secretary of State thinks fit;

(b) to act generally or in relation to a specified authority or authorities;

(c) to report on administration generally or on specified matters.”

(2) In section 139C(1) of that Act (reports) for the words from “in particular” to the end there shall be substituted “in particular—

(a) in the prevention and detection of fraud relating to benefit, or

(b) for the purposes of complying with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value).”