On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the BFI inspection reports on the following councils—Dudley Metropolitan borough council, Dumfries and Galloway council, Lewes district council and South Lanarkshire council—were published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

The BFI reports detail a range of strengths and weaknesses in the housing benefit services provided by councils and make recommendations to improve the security and efficiency of benefit delivery.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering the reports and may ask the councils for proposals in response to BFI’s findings.