Child Support Agency (Hansard, 22 July 2002)

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2002,Official Report, column 1215W, on the Child Support Agency, what estimates he has made of the costs of new IT for the Child Support Agency in the period 2001 to 2004. [54515]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 23 May 2002The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me. 819W You ask pursuant to his Answer of 19th April Official Report column 1215W on the Child Support Agency what estimates he has made of the costs of new IT for the Child Support Agency in the period 2001 to 04. I am sorry that I cannot provide the costs of the new IT for the Child Support Agency for the period 2001 to 2004 as it is commercially confidential. I can say that the planned total cost of the project to implement Child Support Reform over the 10 year period of the business case was £651 million. I hope this is helpful.

§ Ms Stuart
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have had their driving licence withdrawn for failure to pay arrears to the Child Support Agency. [67315]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Ms Gisela Stuart, dated July 2002The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me. You ask how many people have had their driving licence withdrawn for failure to pay arrears to the Child Support Agency. In the period from April 2001 to 12 June 2002 one non-resident parent has had his driving licence withdrawn and in a further three cases the disqualification has been suspended giving the non-resident parent a further, and final, opportunity to pay outstanding amounts. I hope this is helpful.

§ Mr. Weir
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in the implementation of new computer systems in the Child Support Agency. [68088]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated July 2002: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me. You ask what progress has been made in the implementation of new computer systems in the Child Support Agency. The testing of the new IT system to support Child Support Reform is progressing well. There is no firm date for the completion of testing and associated work. When this work is complete I will advise the Secretary of State accordingly. I hope this is helpful.

§ Vera Baird
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when quarterly statistical information on the performance of the Child Support Agency was last placed in the Library; and whether he plans to place such information on the performance of the Agency in the Library on a regular basis. [67234]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The "Quarterly Summary Statistics for the Child Support Agency—February 2002" was placed in the Library on 13 June 2002.

§ Bill O'Brien
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been referred to the special payments department by the CSA over the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [63419]
820W

§ Malcolm Wicks
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Bill O'Brien, dated 18 July 2002The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me. You ask how many cases have been referred to the Special Payments Department by the Child Support Agency over the past three years; and if the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will make a statement. Each year the Child Support Agency receives over 300,000 new applications. It has a caseload of 1.1 million cases. Against that background it has referred 31,232 cases to its Special Payments Team for consideration of re-dress or a consolatory payment following a complaint. I hope this is helpful.