Section 139A | Persons to report on administration ^F1F2

(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.^F1F2F3

(2)The Secretary of State may ask persons authorised under subsection (1) to consider in particular–^F1F2F3

(a)authorities’ performance in the prevention and detection of fraud relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit;^F1F2F3

(b)authorities compliance with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value) or the performance requirements set out in section 89 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.^F1F2F3F4

(2A)A person may be authorised under subsection (1)–^F1F2F3

(a)on such terms and for such period as the Secretary of State thinks fit;^F1F2F3

(b)to act generally or in relation to a specified authority or authorities;^F1F2F3

(c)to report on administration generally or on specified matters.^F1F2F3

(3)In sections 139B and 139C below—^F1F2

“benefit” means housing benefit or council tax benefit; and

“authority” means an authority which is administering either of those benefits.