Useful links
Please note that the DWP is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the following websites and linking to them should not be considered as an endorsement of any kind. We have no control over the availability of the linked pages.
- www.4ps.gov.uk - Public Private Partnerships Programme (4Ps) are the local government procurement expert and offer comprehensive procurement support to LAs. They offer project support, Gateway Reviews, skills development and ‘know-how’ guidance.
- www.appeals-service.gov.uk - The Appeals Service arranges and hears appeals on social security, child support, vaccine damage, tax credit and compensation recovery decisions.
- www.audit-commission.gov.uk - The Audit Commission is an independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is used economically, efficiently and effectively, appointing external auditors and carrying out national research.
- www.audit-scotland.gov.uk - Audit Scotland provides services to the Accounts Commission and the Auditor General for Scotland. Together they help to ensure that the Scottish Executive and public sector bodies in Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of almost £20 billion of public funds.
- www.bfi.gov.uk - This site explains the work of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI). It includes regional reports.
- www.bvpi.gov.uk - The interactive Best Value Performance Indicator site created by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
- www.cih.org - The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people working in housing. Their purpose is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well being of communities.
- www.cipfa.org.uk - The leading authority on accountancy and financial management for the public services.
- www.communities.gov.uk - The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has a remit to promote community cohesion and equality and is responsible for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government.
- www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk - Communities Scotland works on behalf of Ministers to promote social justice and tackle exclusion through the delivery of sustainable community regeneration.
- www.cosla.gov.uk - The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is the representative voice of Scotland's unitary local authorities.
- www.direct.gov.uk - Direct gov is the easy way to access government services on the internet. It guides you through more than 900 government websites (including all LA sites) to get the information you need quickly and efficiently. It is a key part of the UK online initiative.
- www.homeoffice.gov.uk - The Home Office is the Government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales.
- www.housingcorp.gov.uk - The Housing Corporation is responsible for investing public money in housing associations - and for protecting that investment and ensuring it provides decent homes and services for residents.
- www.housing.org.uk - The National Housing Federation is the body that represents the independent social housing sector. They have around 1400 non-profit housing organisations currently as members, between them owning or managing around 1.8 million homes.
- www.ico.gov.uk - The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information
- www.idea.gov.uk - Established by and for local government, the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) draws expertise from local authorities, the business world, professional service firms, not for profit organisations as well as other parts of the public sector.
- www.improvementnetwork.gov.uk - The Improvement Network is a partnership between the Audit Commission, the IDeA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and the Leadership Centre for Local Government. It supports improvement in the delivery of local public services through addressing the current needs of local councils. It offers practical support for local authority managers and tools to support LAs improvement journey.
- www.improvementservice.org.uk - The Improvement Service is focussed on improving efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland through learning, sharing knowledge and delivering improvement solutions. It aims to support continuous improvement.
- www.hmrc.gov.uk - The HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for the efficient administration of most tax revenue, as well as paying Tax Credits and Child Benefit and strengthening the UK's frontiers.
- www.info4local.gov.uk - The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in conjunction with other Government Departments, is developing for local authorities a gateway to information produced by central Government.
- www.irrv.org.uk - The Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation is the professional body for local taxation, benefits and valuation, promoting best practice and supporting the professional activities of its members.
- www.isb.gov.uk - The Invest to Save Budget (ISB) is about oiling the wheels of partnership. ISB is itself a joint venture between Treasury and Cabinet Office. It provides funds to encourage two or more public bodies to jointly reconfigure elements of their work or to initiate new processes to provide innovative, or streamlined, or simply better modes of service.
- www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk - Jobcentre Plus is a modern service for people of working age who are claiming benefits. It's there to give people help and support to find work and become independent.
- www.jrf.org.uk - The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest independent social policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a wide programme of research and development projects in housing, social care and social policy.
- www.lga.gov.uk - The Local Government Association (LGA) represents every local authority in England and Wales through its membership - a total of just under 500 - with the aim of promoting better local government.
- www.londoncouncils.gov.uk - London Councils is committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London's 33 councils. We develop policy, lobby government and others, and run a range of services designed to make life better for Londoners.
- www.nafn.gov.uk - The National Anti-Fraud Network is used by local authorities to co-ordinate activities and share best practice to combat all types of local authority fraud. It also features a "Report a Fraud" facility.
- http://new.wales.gov.uk - The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Wales, including the economy, health, education, and local government. Their role is to exercise functions devolved to it in order to: make decisions on matters which affect people’s daily lives; develop and implement policy; make subordinate legislation (eg regulations and statutory guidance) and propose Assembly Measures (Welsh laws).
- www.ogc.gov.uk - The Office of Government Commerce is an office of HM Treasury. It is responsible for improving value for money by driving up standards and capability in procurement. OGC governs all Departments’ efficiency gains reported to HMT.
- www.opsi.gov.uk - Among its varied functions the Office of Public Sector Information oversees the printing and publication of all UK legislation and related official materials in traditional print formats and via the internet.
- www.ombudsman.org.uk - Information about the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Parliamentary Ombudsman), who investigates complaints about cases referred by MPs.
- www.parliament.uk - The official site of the United Kingdom Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It contains news, papers, committee reports, debates and the details of bills.
- www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/workpenhome.htm - Official site of the Work and Pensions Commons Select Committee (which has replaced the Social Security Commons Select Committee), empowered to examine DWP expenditure, policy and administration.
- www.productshare.org.uk - Product Share provides a single point of access to some 2,000 products from local government initiatives including the National Projects, e-Innovations and regional partnerships. This resource provides local authority officers with a ‘one-stop shop’ in which to find guidance on how to modernise and improve the way services are delivered. Products include how-to guides, case studies, toolkits, business cases and lessons learned.
- www.rce.gov.uk - The Regional Centres of Excellence are hosted by LAs and run by management boards. The RCEs provide tools on guidance and efficiency.
- www.ssac.org.uk - Advice from the Social Security Advisory Committee on matters referred by the Secretary of State for Social Security or the Northern Ireland Department responsible for Social Security.
- www.statistics.gov.uk - provides an up-to-date, comprehensive and meaningful description of the UK's economy and society.
- www.targetingfraud.gov.uk - Site outlining DWP activities in tackling fraud, including a confidential online fraud allegation reporting form and links.
- www.therentservice.gov.uk - The Rent Service provides a rental valuation service for Housing Benefit purposes, fair rent valuations for landlords and tenants and advice to customers and stakeholders within the public and private sectors.
- www.wao.gov.uk - The Wales Audit Office covers all sectors of government, except those reserved to the UK government. They promote improvement, so that the people of Wales benefit from accountable, well managed public services that offer the best possible value for money.