Overview

This bill aims to exempt the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from the legal requirement to keep physical copies of benefit claim documents if electronic records are maintained in an approved format. This simplifies record-keeping and potentially reduces costs for the DWP.

Description

The Department for Work and Pensions (Electronic File Retention) Bill allows the DWP to store benefit claim documents electronically, removing the obligation to maintain paper copies. This only applies if the electronic files meet certain approval standards. The Secretary of State can use Statutory Instruments to amend existing laws to reflect this change. The bill defines "relevant benefit claims" as those covered by the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/991). The bill applies to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to reduce government spending by eliminating the costs associated with storing and managing physical files. Exact figures are not provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects the:

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): Reduces their administrative burden and storage costs.
• Individuals claiming benefits: May experience changes in how their claim information is accessed and stored; however, the bill doesn't directly affect access to information.
• Archives and historical researchers: Potential long-term impact on the accessibility of historical benefit claim records.

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