HL Deb 18 April 1996 vol 571 cc80-1WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give further consideration to the suggestion made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in paragraph 11 of Appendix 2 (pp 55ߝ56, Case No. 99/95) of his third report (Investigation of Complaints against the Child Support Agency) that an automatic procedure be established whereby the Benefits Agency would notify the relevant housing department when a termination of income support has ceased to apply.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the noble Earl.

Letter to Earl Russell from the Change Management Director of the Benefit Agency, (Ms Ursula Brennan), dated 17th April 1996.

As Peter Mathison is on leave at the moment, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Questions asking whether Her Majesty's Government will give further consideration to the suggestion made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (PCA) in paragraph 11 of Appendix 2 (pp 55ߝ56, case No. 99/95) of his third report (Investigation of Complaints against the Child Support Agency) that an automatic procedure be established whereby the Benefits Agency (BA) would notify the relevant housing department when a termination of income support has ceased to apply.

When an income support (IS) award is terminated, the IS Computer System (ISCS), where appropriate, automatically produces a notification of the cessation of the award for issue to the housing department of the local authority (LA). If the decision to disallow IS is revised and the IS award is reinstated, the LA must be advised clerically, as this process has not been automated.

Automation of this process is being considered and the Information Technology Services Agency have been asked to cost an enhancement to the ISCS. However any enhancements to the computer system have to be prioritised. A bulletin was issued to all appropriate staff in January 1996, reminding them of the clerical action to take in these cases.

I hope you find this reply helpful.