§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints and representations have been received by(a) his office and (b) the Benefits Agency arising from the new NIRS2 computer system; and if he will make a statement. [93196]
§ Mr. TimmsTo date there have been 110 parliamentary questions arising from the implementation of the new National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2). Between 1 June 1998 and 31 March 1999 the Secretary of State for Social Security received 87 parliamentary questions. Since 1 April 1999 a further 23 have been received of which 11 were transferred to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
There have been 240 letters specifically relating to NIRS2 of which 85 were received by Ministers, 73 by the Benefits Agency and 82 by the former Contributions Agency.
Between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 752 letters were received with queries about the rates of Retirement Pension, 366 were addressed to Ministers and 386 to the Benefits Agency. Some of these will relate to the implementation of NIRS2.
Information about the numbers of complaints, received at local benefit offices, arising from the NIRS2 computer system, is not available. However, the Benefits Agency has completed over 13,600 clerical calculations of Retirement Pension and Widows Benefits.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have not received their full pension at retirement date due to failure of the new NIRS2 computer system; and if he will make a statement. [93197]
§ Mr. TimmsI refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 22 July 1999,Official Report, columns 575-76.
It is estimated that there were up to 285,000 pensioners affected by the NIRS2 problems who therefore potentially may have been underpaid at retirement date.
Contingency arrangements were put in place to minimise the effect on customers claiming Incapacity Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Retirement Pension and Widows Benefit. These arrangements included 302W making emergency payments to people claiming Retirement Pension and Widows Benefits where information was not available, interim payments of Jobseeker's Allowance and payment of some Incapacity Benefit claims based on information provided by the customer. Parliament was kept informed of the arrangements.
In order to provide adequate protection for the public purse, those who receive payments under emergency procedures are required to sign an undertaking to repay benefit where subsequent inquiries show that the amount due was less than the amount paid. This procedure has been followed in the case of the payments made as a result of the NIRS2 problems and recovery of any overpayments will be pursued in accordance with laid down procedures. Early figures from the Benefits Agency's work on reviewing affected cases indicates that overpayments have occurred in only a very small proportion of those examined. In addition, I have instructed the Benefits Agency to ensure that cases are dealt with as sensitively as possible and with full regard to the individual's circumstances.