§ Mr. WeirTo 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.951WI 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. WeirTo 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):
952W
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.