§ The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Andrew Smith)I am today able to announce the annual performance targets in 2003–04 for the Child Support Agency, one of the Department for Work and Pensions' Executive Agencies.
The targets I have agreed are set out below.
Further information on the plans of the Child Support Agency in 2003–04 is contained in its business plan, which has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Reducing poverty through compliance:
Maintenance Calculations—New and Old SchemeThe Agency will increase the proportion of new applications that result in maintenance calculations for:11WSOld scheme cases by 3 percentage points; andNew scheme cases by 23 percentage points.Case Compliance—New SchemeTo collect child maintenance and/or arrears from at least 78 per cent. of allcases with a maintenance liability using the Agency's collection service.Cash compliance—New SchemeTo collect at least 75 per cent. of child maintenance and/or arrears due to be paid through the Agency's collection service.Cash and Case Collection—New SchemeTo develop individual targets for case and cash compliance to measure the collection of current maintenance separately from arrears collection.CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Accuracy—New SchemeAccuracy on the last decision made for all maintenance calculations to be checked in the year to be correct to the nearest penny in at least 90 per cent. of cases.Throughput—New SchemePayment arrangements for new scheme cases will have been established on average within 6 weeks.Customer perceptionTo develop a customer perception target for introduction in 2004–05.PRODUCTIVITY:
To develop a unit cost target.DEBT:
To develop a debt management target.