§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what computer package was used by the Child Support Agency when calculating travel-to-work distances; and which parts of the postcode are taken into account. [19487]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency computer packages.There are two computer packages utilised to calculate the travel-to-work distances. The first computer package is the Post Office Address File produced by the Royal Mail and the second is a bespoke system, called TravCost, based on the computer package DataEase. The TravCost System was developed and is currently supported by the Child Support Agency Small Systems Team.The complete postcode of an address, which may be composed of between five and seven alphanumeric characters, is used to obtain an Ordnance Survey North and East Grid Reference from the Post Office Address File computer package. The package utilises grid references assigned by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, and is updated every three months with the latest post code and grid reference information. The grid references for both the client's home and work address are then entered onto the TravCost System, which calculates allowable travel-to-work costs.I hope this is helpful.