§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to publish details of the targets of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MossThe Child Support Agency will publish its 1994–95 business plan today. Copies will be placed in the House.
261WThe targets that I have set for the Child Support Agency for 1994–95 are as follows:
—50 per cent. of people with care of children making eligible applications to the Child Support Agency to have maintenance arranged;—a score of 65 out of 100 on an index of client satisfaction with the agency's service, as determined by an independent survey;—annual benefit savings of £10.2 million;—to manage the agency's resources so as to deliver its business plan within a total budget of £5.7 million;—by the end of March 1995, no more than 55 per cent. of outstanding maintenance applications to be over 13-weeks-old, no more than 25 per cent. over 26-weeks-old, and no more than 1 per cent. over 52-weeks-old.The agency is making a number of operational and procedural changes this year which should significantly improve performance. The new targets take this expected improvement into account. They are higher than the agency's achievements last year; and they will be challenging but they should be achievable.