HC Deb 18 December 2003 vol 415 cc1090-2W
Mr. Goodman

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (1) if he will make a statement on the work involved in transferring old Child Support Agency cases to the new scheme; [140878]

(2) what plans he has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement; [140900]

(3) what percentage of the Child Support Agency cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme contain anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data; [140880]

(4) how many anomalies, inaccuracies and pieces of incomplete data are contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme; [140882]

(5) how long he expects the work needed to bring records of Child Support Agency cases up to a standard acceptable for transfer to the new scheme to take; and if he will make a statement; [140899]

(6)what proportion of the anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme require human intervention; and if he will make a statement. [140879]

Mr. Pond

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 Paul Goodman, dated 18 December 2003:

In replying to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

You asked about the work involved in transferring old Child Support Agency cases to the new scheme. You also asked a number of related questions as follows: What proportion of the anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data contained in the Child Support Agency records of cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme require human intervention. What percentage of the Child Support Agency cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme contain anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data. How many anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data are contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme. How long will it take to do the work needed to bring records of Child Support Agency cases up to a standard acceptable for transfer to the new scheme. and What plans the Secretary of State has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The existing computer system contains little validation around data entry and we have been progressively working through certain fields to ensure that apparent anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data are corrected. In designing and developing computer support for the new Child Support arrangements we created a series of 'business rules' designed to ensure the accuracy of data flowing from one system to the other. We have not yet finalised our data migration strategy or the timetable for that work. In doing so we will need to establish what business rules are applied at the point of migration and what data cleanse activity might sensibly be deferred until later in the process. In making this judgement our prime aim will be to ensure that clients gain the most accurate possible calculation and have a clear and responsive channel open to them to challenge and/or correct any errors. It is not possible to provide the further detail you require in advance of finalising our migration plans.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the policy of his Department that officials of the Child Support Agency should seek to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.[141516]

Mr. Pond

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Christopher Chope:

In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executie.

You asked whether it is the policy of the Department for Work and Pensions that officials of the Child Support Agency seek to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their honourable Member.

The Child Support Agency certainly does not have a policy of seeking to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their Member of Parliament. Instead it has a policy of providing customers with the necessary information to enable them to make a complaint effectively. To this end the Agency has published a leaflet "How to complain about the Child Support Agency" advising customers of their rights and procedure to follow if they have a complaint about the service it provides. This leaflet is freely available from any local office of the Department or by contacting the National Enquiry Line; it is also available via the Agency's web site on the Internet.

The leaflet includes guidance about contacting Members of Parliament for advice. It also describes the circumstances under which the Agency would consider making a special payment and signposts the customer to the "Financial Redress for Maladministration" booklet published by the Department.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to transfer the old CSA caseload to the new system; and if a new application will be required. [143089]

Mr. Pond

We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well. A new application will not be required.

Mr. John Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs. Samantha Mucklow of Solihull. [143491]

Mr. Pond

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Taylor:

In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs Samantha Mucklow of Solihull.

A report on the performance of the Child Support Agency was placed in the Library on the 18th November 2003.

As individual cases are confidential I will write to you privately concerning Mrs Mucklow, when I reply to your letter of 28th November 2003.

Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he estimates that Child Support Agency cases existing prior to 3 March will be transferred to the new scheme. [145159]

Mr. Pond

We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well.