§ Mr. McNultyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency's 1997–98 Annual report and Accounts will be published. [53935]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe Northern Ireland Child Support Agency will publish its 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts today. Copies will be placed in the Library.
It is pleasing to note that the Agency has met all Ministerial and Milestone targets for the second year running. Given the strong emphasis which the Agency has placed on improving the quality of service, it is particularly gratifying to see that the bulk of new maintenance applications (94℅) are now being cleared within 26 weeks. The report also records continuing progress on all major fronts over the past three years.
During the year the Agency collected £7.6 million in maintenance, a 43℅ increase on 1996–97 and is striving to improve the collection rate further through additional measures, such as the recruitment of staff to work alternative working patterns including evenings and Saturdays.
Closer working with the Social Security Agency to improve working practices, contribution to the Lone Parent Initiative and the successful transfer of all pre-Maintenance Assessment work to the Area Offices is yet a further demonstration of the Agency's commitment to make its services more efficient and accessible to its clients.
The Agency has delivered an effective performance during 1997–98 within the allocated resources. With the substantial progress made to date the Northern Ireland CSA is well placed to contribute effectively to the Active Modern Service Programme.