§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Child Support Agency staff have received performance-related pay; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 13 July 1994:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on performance related pay within the Child Support Agency.The Child Support Agency operates its performance related pay scheme within the terms of the national pay arrangements agreed by the Treasury and Civil Service Trades Unions.The level of any individual's performance related progression is governed by the Agency's annual performance appraisal arrangements. Each member of staff is set a number of work and personal objectives, tailored to meet their experience and ability, which are assessed each year by their line manager. Any entitlement to performance related pay is then awarded in recognition of the level of performance achieved.There is no direct correlation between the pay of staff employed by the Agency and the amount of maintenance they secure or the number of absent parents they locate.The Agency now employs 5,268 permanent staff, including 488.5 in Northern Ireland, all of whom are eligible for consideration for an award of performance related pay based upon the agreed arrangements which are available for inspection in the Library.I hope you will find this reply helpful.