Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Landlord Licensing Scheme introduced by the London Borough of Newham on improving the (a) detection of housing benefit fraud and (b) reclamation of funds fraudulently obtained.

The Department will assess the effectiveness of the current licensing scheme adopted by the London Borough of Newham in delivering its objectives under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 if and when an application is made to the Secretary of State by the borough for confirmation of any further licensing designation under the provisions of the Act.