HC Deb 27 April 2004 vol 420 cc950-2W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money due to clients of the Child Support Agency is held by the Agency owing to computer errors; and how much money has been held in each of the last six months in(a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency. [168654]

Mr. Pond

[holding answer 26 April 2004]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 27 April 2004: In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. You asked, how much money due to clients of the Child Support Agency is held by the Agency owing to computer errors; and how much money has been held in each of the last six months in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency. I do not have the information that you seek. I can say that at 31 March 2004 we were holding a total of £368,341 representing monies received from the non-resident parent that had not yet been paid out to the parent with care. Some will reflect computer errors but a significant element will represent payments received that are awaiting clearance by our bankers.

Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much compensation has been paid to clients of the Child Support Agency owing to delays caused by computer errors in each of the last 12 months in(a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency. [168655]

Mr. Pond

[holding answer 26 April 2004]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 27 April 2004:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

SCS G6 G7 SEO HEO EO AO AA Total
(i) Gender
Male 92 128 392 547 1,055 1,957 2,107 1,119 7,397
Female 51 85 278 469 1,222 3,422 4,807 1,737 12,071
(ii) Ethnic group
Asian < 5 < 5 1.3 18 32 191 308 164 727
Black < 5 < 5 < 5 5 25 87 137 54 314
Chinese < 5 < 5 < 5 < 5 < 5 10 8 < 5 28
Mixed/
Other < 5 < 5 5 6 23 70 96 43 248
White 109 162 530 833 1,862 4,218 5,158 2,018 14,890
No/
Unclear
Response 30 46 118 152 332 803 1,207 573 3,261
(iii) Disability
Disabled 8 6 17 31 85 261 288 92 788
Non
Disabled 132 207 648 974 2,169 5,082 6,602 2,759 18,573
Unknown < 5 < 5 5 11 23 36 24 5 107
(iv) Age group
< 20 53 136 189
20 < 25 < 5 48 233 666 480 1,429
25 < 30 46 26 135 502 885 278 1,872
30 < 35 5 18 65 71 237 831 953 259 2,439
35<40 19 26 103 189 452 1,013 1,061 260 3,123
40 < 45 26 34 120 244 486 989 968 333 3,200
45 < 50 33 52 131 197 426 799 812 286 2,736
50 < 55 36 54 133 183 313 590 663 341 2,313
55<60 22 25 71 89 160 342 649 314 1,672
60 < 65 <5 <5 15 20 77 200 165 483
65+ <5 <5 <5 <5 12

(b) Department's Executive agencies (Jobcentre Plus,

the Pension Service, Child Support Agency and Appeals Service):

SCS G6 G7 SEO HEO E0 AO AA Total
(i) Gender
Male 61 151 307 824 2,320 12,344 16,238 2,751 34,996
Female 28 100 246 938 3,693 27,444 44,946 5,386 82,781

You asked, how much compensation has been paid to clients of the Child Support Agency owing to delays caused by computer errors in each of the last 12 months in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency. I do not have the information you seek. I can say that in the year to 31 March 2004 a total of around 2 million was paid to clients of the Agency by way at financial redress for maladministration. This will include maladministration resulting from computer errors outside our direct control.