Welfare Reform Bill

It may not be a question of direction, but I would have thought that, in any contract negotiations, if one is trying to ensure that there is full coverage of the support that needs to be available, the Secretary of State, or officials working on her behalf, would want to be clear about precisely what arrangements are being put in place. To be clear, if the Secretary of State’s authority is delegated, she must consent to the subcontract. That is the current arrangement and is absolutely right. The Secretary of State, in agreeing to arrangements with a prime contractor, is entitled to, and should, know the full spread of expertise and support that is available. Surely we would not want it any other way.