Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether supplies of Form CRU1, issued by the Benefits Agency pursuant to the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999, were available to insurance companies in sufficient quantities from 1 April; how many such forms have been destroyed owing to a design error; what the cost has been of this wastage; and who was responsible for it. [HL2042]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The administration of the Compensation Recovery Unit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. I have asked him to write to you.
Letter to Earl Howe from the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Mr. P. Mathison, dated 27 April 1999.
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking whether supplies of Form CRU1 issued by the Benefits Agency pursuant to the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 were available to insurance companies in sufficient quantities from 1 April; how many such forms have been destroyed owing to a design error; what the cost has been of this wastage; and who was responsible for it.
Form CRU1 was available in sufficient quantities from 1 April. The Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Scheme came into operation on 5 April 1999 and stocks of the form were available to insurers from mid-March.
A total of 0.5 million forms were printed and the stock was quickly reduced due to demand from insurers. A further 0.5 million forms were subsequently ordered and the opportunity was taken on re-print to introduce improvements to some of the wording on the form.
There was no design error on the original version and accordingly no forms were destroyed. However, whilst the original version was perfectly adequate, the changes made, in accordance with the Compensation Recovery Unit's aim of continuous improvement, further clarified the requirements of the scheme for insurers.
I hope you find this reply helpful.