§ Lord Bancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the third report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Investigation of Complaints against the Child Support Agency), whether they will list the precise steps they are taking to remedy the current understaffing of the agency mentioned in paragraph 10 of that report.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Bancroft from the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency, Miss Ann Chant, dated 18th April 1996.
I am replying to your parliamentary Question in which you expressed concern that the Special Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration implied that the Child Support Agency is understaffed.
Paragraph 10 of that report says that there might be planned reductions from the current level of staffing. In fact, the number of staff employed by the agency has steadily increased for each of its three years of existence, as was always envisaged. At 31/3/94, the agency employed 4,685 staff. At 31/3/95, the agency employed 5,695 staff. At 31/1/96, the agency employed 6,299.
I wrote in paragraph (e) of my response to the report:
"The Agency Running Cost allocation for 1996/97 has increased over its 1995/96 level, and we could afford to recruit further staff in 1996/97. However, we exist in a climate where there is continuous change within the civil service and as part of the Departmental Change Programme we will identify aspects of our work where we can achieve efficiencies by implementing simplification and improvement throughout our entire organisation, but in reducing administrative costs it is our clear intent to maintain high standards of service to our clients."
I confirmed to the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on 27/3/96 that we have already begun to recruit additional staff for 1996/97.
In view of the above, you will see that it is not possible to answer your Question in the form that you requested, but I hope that what I have said is reassuring.