§ 24. Sir David MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the new arrangements for contact between the public and the Child Support Agency at a local level will begin operating; and if he will make a statement. [107211]
§ Angela EagleThe CSA is currently rolling out a programme of face-to-face customer service across the country. This will be completed by March this year, when there will be 600 staff in 86 locations providing face-to-face interviews.
§ 33. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on his proposed reforms of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [107221]
54W
§ Angela EagleWe have received widespread support for our proposed reforms. The legislation, giving effect to these reforms, is currently before the House.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1999,Official Report, columns 375–76W, if he will make a statement on the Child Support Reforms New Rules Implementation Project, including the progress to date and the amount which has been spent. [106803]
§ Angela EagleI refer the hon. Member to the written answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security gave my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Mr. Fitzpatrick) on 31 January 2000,Official Report, columns 465M–66W.
The Child Support Agency has so far incurred expenditure of around £800,000 on implementing the new child support rules.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress made with establishing the computer system designed to provide a link between the Child Support Agency and Income Support systems; and if he will estimate the amount spent on this aspect of the Affinity Project to date. [106774]
§ Angela EagleDiscussions are ongoing between the Department and the Affinity Consortium to agree the detailed business specification for Child Support Reform, including enhanced links between the Child Support and Income Support systems, with a view to agreeing a contract for a new computer system. An announcement about the contract will be made in due course. The cost of developing and implementing the computer system to link Child Support and Income Support will form part of this contract.
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each Child Support Agency centre in the years 1993 to 1999(a) in how many cases an inspector was appointed under section 15 of the Child Support Act 1991 as a result of information coming to light of the section 18 review procedure; (b) in how many cases an inspector was appointed as a result of direction by a tribunal; (c) in how many cases a tribunal direction to appoint an inspector was not acted upon; and for the cases in which inspectors were appointed what were the average sums recovered and audited to (i) parents with care and (ii) Her Majesty's Treasury for each of the above years. [107952]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the Chief Executive. She will write to my hon. Friend shortly.
Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. David Stewart, dated January 2000:
I am replying to Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.The information requested is not currently held. However, as part of the Child Support Reforms fraud is a major issue and tough sanctions are proposed for those parents who deliberately supply false information.Dealing with fraud allows us to play a full part in the Government's plans for tackling fraud and incorrectness, in a way that fits in with our priorities and the Government's proposed reform.55WCSA is developing a child support programme review (to determine the level of fraud) and an anti-fraud strategy which will work hand in hand with the Agency's improvements to service delivery.The Agency intends, as part of the CSR reforms, to appoint full time inspectors and issue penalty notices to uncooperative parents and employers. It will also introduce a fraud training and awareness package for all CSA staff., along with clear operational procedures.The current sanctions available to the Agency will be reviewed and a Head of Security will be appointed together with a small team of highly skilled staff to develop and continue the security strategy.To ensure that the security strategy is working, we propose to seek assurance through internal audit, external assistance by BFI and by benchmarking security with other organisations.I hope that this is helpful.