HC Deb 25 November 1994 vol 250 c423W
Mr. Speller

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many annual periodic review notices have been sent out by the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. John Spellar, dated 24 November 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the total number of annual periodic review notices sent out by the Child Support Agency. At present, this information could only be collected at disproportionate cost. Data on the number of periodic review forms issued will be collected on a regular basis in the future, although figures are unlikely to become available before April 1995. Since August 1994, the Agency has been collecting figures on the number of periodic review forms returned. Latest available figures show that 1,478 forms were returned during August.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security from what source and when the money was raised to reimburse the £4,800 of public funds spent on the lunch held at Plymouth Child Support Agency centre on 25 March; and what disciplinary action was taken against the staff responsible.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 November 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the party held at the Agency's Plymouth Centre. Staff disciplinary action within the Agency, like the rest of the Department of Social Security is a confidential matter between management, personnel and the staff involved. I cannot therefore provide you with any further details which would not breach that confidentiality. I repeat that appropriate disciplinary action was taken against those officials who had shown poor judgement. The £4,880 involved was privately donated within the Agency to avoid any loss to public funds. Again, it would not therefore be appropriate for me to provide further information.