Software Releases (Hansard, 17 February 2000)

§ Angela Eagle

[holding answer 28 January 2000]: Software releases are a matter for the Chief Executive of the Information Technology Services Agency, George McCorkell. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Shanley, on behalf of George McCorkell, to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 11 February 2000: Further to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Departmental software releases. You specifically asked about the changes that these releases would make to the benefit system. Upgrades and enhancements to the Department's Information Technology (IT) systems are agreed and planned jointly between the Information Technology Service Agency, Departmental Agencies and other units and Stakeholders. The attached annex outlines the benefit system software releases planned for the next three years and concentrates on the benefits these releases will introduce for their recipients. The work planned over the next three years has accounted for several legislative changes. Any further legislative changes announced will have an effect on the contents of the releases planned. I hope that you find this reply helpful.

Annex Over the next three financial years the following releases have been planned: Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) has three proposed releases which plan to implement enhancements to: New Deal for Partners of the Unemployed providing equal treatment as a joint claim for partners in 18–24 age support payment of a revised range of benefits and allowances to both Widows and Widowers; apply a penalty to a Jobseeker's benefit where (s)he has failed to comply with Probation or Community Punishment Order; improve allowances where a higher-rate of Carer's Component of Disability Living Allowance is in payment; to improve system notifications issued to customers. Income Support (IS) has four proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements: an extension of the New Deal for Lone Parent scheme to lone parents with children between 3 years and 5 years 3 months; introduction of new premiums as part of the 'Disability Income Guarantee' initiative; the provision of certain forms directly to Social Service locations; to account for the introduction of the Child Support Reforms; to improve system notifications issued to customers. Social Fund (SF) has four proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements: to improve the system notifications issued to customers; extension of Budgeting Loans to low income groups by allowing Council Tax Benefit recipients access to the scheme; 665W improvements to the repayment of loan interface with the Income Support Computer System; introduction of Automated Credit Transfer for Social Fund customers. Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance (DLA/AA) has four proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements: automation of some notifications to improve consistency of customer information; identification of certain renewal cases to allow for further medical enquiries; a range of system administration enhancements. Working Families' Tax Credit (WFTC)/Disabled Person's Tax Credit (DPTC) has three proposed releases to implement the following enhancements: support changes intended to bring WFTC into line with DPTC; support changes for new rules for DPTC; Support changes where the system will calculate entitlement to remission from NHS charges, and issue a certificate with the award notification; support changes to the award amount to certain WFTC applicants; a range of system administration enhancements. Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) has two proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements: production of restricted orderbooks which account for the recipient reaching retirement age or changes to their receipt of DLA/AA; a range of system administration enhancements. Industrial Injuries has two proposed releases which plan to implement a range of system administration enhancements. War Pensions (WP) has six proposed releases, which plan to implement the following enhancements: to reflect decisions made at the European Court of Human Rights; a range of system administration enhancements. Pensions and Incapacity Benefit (PSCS/INCAP) has five proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements to: support changes in the award of Maternity Allowance from April 2000; support changes relating to Pensions Sharing on Divorce; support changes relating to the provision of support in bereavement; support changes in Incapacity Benefit for helping young disabled people; support changes to cater for where a claimant has a personal or occupational pension; support the Child Support Reforms; support a State Second Pension Scheme; support Teleclaims processing for new Retirement Pension claimants in Great Britain. Child Benefit (ChB) has three proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements: new processing of late claims to Child Benefit; new communications with Welsh customers; introduction of new and improved communications for Child Benefit customers. Child Support Computer System (CSCS) has two proposed releases which plan to implement the following enhancements: to provide new customer payment statements; to provide changes to the way information from Job Seeker Allowance (JSA)/Income Support (IS) is handled; to improve system notifications issued to customers; to the debt management system.