§ Mr. PearsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the levels of accuracy currently achieved by the CSA; and if she will make a statement. [4631]
Mr. BradleyWe intend to look closely at all aspects of the Child Support Agency to ensure that it provides an efficient and effective service.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. Ian Pearson, dated 24 June 1997:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency accuracy levels.The 1997–98 Secretary of State target set for the Agency relating to accuracy is for the cash value of all assessments checked in the year to be correct in at least 85% of cases.Performance against this target is determined by examination of a statistically valid sample of maintenance assessments, which are checked to ensure that the cash value of the assessment (or change to the assessment) is correct within one penny. To satisfy the target 85% of all cases checked throughout the year must be correct to the last penny.The accuracy of the cash value maintenance has improved over recent years for 79% reported for March 1996 to 87% reported for March 1997. Performance against the target in this financial year has been maintained at this level, with accuracy running at 86% in April and 88% in May.I hope this is helpful.
§ Mr. PearsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time from the issue of a maintenance inquiry form by the CSA to the issuing of the maintenance assessment.[4627]
Mr. BradleyWe expect the Child Support Agency to provide an efficient and effective service to all its clients throughout the child support assessment process.
569WThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. Ian Pearson, dated 24 June 1997:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the processing of applications for child support. I am afraid I cannot give you precise information in the format you have requested.The Agency does not collect general information on average processing times, but measures performance against its Secretary of State target relating to the clearance of applications. In 1996–97, the target was to clear 60 per cent. of new maintenance applications within 26 weeks, with no more than 10 per cent. of outstanding applications to be over 52 weeks old. Over the full year, 54 per cent. of new maintenance applications were cleared within 26 weeks, and 12 per cent. of all applications were over 52 weeks old at 31 March 1997. Performance improved towards the end of the year, so that the in-month figure for clearances within 26 weeks stood at 60 per cent. in February and 63 per cent. in March.I hope this is helpful.
§ Mr. PearsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many second tier reviews were conducted by the CSA in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97; and what was the average length of time taken from receipt of request for review to notification of its outcome; [4629]
(2) what is the current backlog in second tier review work in the CSA. [4630]
Mr. BradleyWe expect the CSA to provide an efficient and effective service to all its clients. The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. Ian Pearson, dated 24 June 1997:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security concerning second tier reviews.Details of clearances for the last three years are as follows:
- 1994–95: 28,272
- 1995–96: 26,955
- 1996–97: 36,339
The improved performance in 1996–97 is a direct result of the drive within the Agency to reduce the number of reviews outstanding. At the end of 1995–96, this stood at 11,189, but by 31 March 1997 had been reduced to 6,279. The numbers continue to fall, with 4,903 reviews outstanding at the end of May 1997.The Agency does not collect information on average processing times. We do, however, have details of the age of the cases on hand, with cases over 26 weeks old considered to be in arrears. Our drive to reduce the number of reviews outstanding concentrated particularly on the clearance of these older cases, with the result that only 647 applications were over 26 weeks old at the end of the year, compared to 3,056 at the end of 1995–96. At 31 May, this had increased slightly to 699 cases.I hope this is helpful.