§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what delays were involved in(a) administering and (b) issuing child benefit payment books; how many child benefit payments due were not received as a result of the delays; and if these payments have now been made. [53708]
§ Mr. DenhamThe administration of Child Benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Rendel, dated 30 July 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what delays were involved in (a) administering and (b) issuing Child Benefit (ChB) payment books; how many ChB payments due were not received as a result of the delays: and if these payments have now been made.The information is not available in the format requested. The ChB Centre (CBC) in Washington has, in general encountered no delays in the administering and the issuing of ChB order books.I am aware that there were two minor problems in the administration of ChB recently; the first followed changes to the criteria for ChB (Lone Parent) rate and the second followed the transfer of computer records to a different system. The incidents had an impact on only a very small number of customers as a result of corrective action taken by the CBC.I hope this information is useful.