HC Deb 09 December 1994 vol 251 cc382-4W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases the Child Support Agency is currently dealing with; what is the extent of the Child Support Agency's backlog; how long, on average, it takes for the Child Support Agency to deal with a case; and if the Child Support Agency will take on further cases before the backlog is cleared.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 9 December 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about outstanding cases at the Child Support Agency. At 30 September 1994 the Agency was dealing with over 766,500 cases; in up to 474,000 of which action had not been fully completed. It was originally expected that a straightforward case would take around 12 weeks to complete, and we would be likely always to have about 250,000 cases in action at any one time. The Agency has already implemented a number of management initiatives to improve performance and operations are kept under review to establish where further improvements may be possible. The Agency does not produce an average clearance time for maintenance assessments, but between April and September 1994 37 percent of assessments were cleared within 40 days; 14 percent between 41 and 100 days, and 49 percent over 100 days.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which company has been engaged by the Child Support Agency to advise the agency upon its administration structure and procedures; and what is the projected cost for this advice.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 9 December 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the consultants engaged by the Child Support Agency. The Agency is being advised upon current and planned service improvements by Andersen Consulting. I cannot provide you with information regarding the projected cost as this is confidential due to its commercial nature.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost per annum of the Child Support Agency proposals to provide DNA testing for fathers in cases of disputed paternity.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 9 December 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the estimated cost to the Child Support Agency of DNA testing. The contract for providing the DNA testing service has not yet been awarded, but it is being tendered on the basis that there will be no additional administrative costs for the Agency. Where paternity is established, the resulting payment of child maintenance will provide a continuing nett weekly gain to either the parent with care, or in certain benefit cases, the taxpayer. In the expectedly small number of cases where the alleged absent parent proves not to be the father and benefit is involved, the Agency will refund the test fees from within existing operating costs. I hope this reply is helpful.

Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much has been paid out by the Child Support Agency over the last 12 months in compensation for errors or inefficiency; and in how many cases;

(2) how many compensation claims for inefficiency are under consideration in the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Helen Jackson, dated 9 December 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about claims for compensation from the Child Support Agency. Over the 12 months to the end of September 1994, payments totalling £900 were authorized in respect of four claims. A further 102 were under active consideration. I hope that this reply is helpful.