HC Deb 08 July 1998 vol 315 cc536-7W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her Department's re-organisation of the Child Support Agency; and when this re-organisation will be implemented. [48324]

Mr. Keith Bradley

I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security on 6 July 1998,Official Report, columns 739–54.

Mr. Terry Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what targets have been established by her Department for the Child Support Agency. [49363]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Terry Davis, dated 7 July 1998: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency targets. Every year the Secretary of State for Social Security sets targets for the Agency which are published in the Business Plans each March. For 1998/99 these targets generally follow a similar format to those for the previous 2 years, but with much increased levels, they are as follows: Child maintenance collected and arranged £750 million of child maintenance to be collected or arranged for direct payment from the non-resident parent to the parent with care Maintenance assessments 65% of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 22 weeks and on 31 March 1999 there to be no applications outstanding over 52 weeks old Reviews Where a client is dissatisfied with a Child Support Officer's decision and requests a review; or where a change of circumstances requires a review; 80% to be cleared within 13 weeks Payments 97% of payments made to the parent with care to be made within 10 working days of receipt from the non-resident parent Accuracy The cash value of all assessments checked in the year to be correct in at least 75% of cases The following Milestone targets have also been set: Review the first six months of closer working with the Benefits Agency, taking into account the views of stakeholders and produce a report by 31 December 1998 By 30 June 1998 formalise national and local consultation arrangements with stakeholders with a view to improving customer service. However, Ministers have asked the Agency to carry out a review of the targets so they focus more on outputs rather than processes (for example, on the time taken to secure an actual payment rather than to complete a formal assessment or review). Ministers will be considering our proposals, in the light of their priorities set out in the Green Paper and we plan to test them out later this year. As part of the review of targets Ministers are also likely to include a Secretary of State target on customer service. I hope this is helpful.