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Child Support Agency

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2002, Official Report, column 1215W, on the Child Support Agency, what estimates he has made of the costs of new IT for the Child Support Agency in the period 2001 to 2004. [54515]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 23 May 2002:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.

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You ask pursuant to his Answer of 19th April Official Report column 1215W on the Child Support Agency what estimates he has made of the costs of new IT for the Child Support Agency in the period 2001 to 04.
I am sorry that I cannot provide the costs of the new IT for the Child Support Agency for the period 2001 to 2004 as it is commercially confidential.
I can say that the planned total cost of the project to implement Child Support Reform over the 10 year period of the business case was £651million.
I hope this is helpful.

Ms Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have had their driving licence withdrawn for failure to pay arrears to the Child Support Agency. [67315]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Ms Gisela Stuart, dated July 2002:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
You ask how many people have had their driving licence withdrawn for failure to pay arrears to the Child Support Agency.
In the period from April 2001 to 12 June 2002 one non-resident parent has had his driving licence withdrawn and in a further three cases the disqualification has been suspended giving the non-resident parent a further, and final, opportunity to pay outstanding amounts.
I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in the implementation of new computer systems in the Child Support Agency. [68088]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated July 2002:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
You ask what progress has been made in the implementation of new computer systems in the Child Support Agency.
The testing of the new IT system to support Child Support Reform is progressing well. There is no firm date for the completion of testing and associated work. When this work is complete I will advise the Secretary of State accordingly.
I hope this is helpful.

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when quarterly statistical information on the performance of the Child Support Agency was last placed in the Library; and whether he plans to place such information on the performance of the Agency in the Library on a regular basis. [67234]

Malcolm Wicks: The "Quarterly Summary Statistics for the Child Support Agency—February 2002" was placed in the Library on 13 June 2002.

Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been referred to the special payments department by the CSA over the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [63419]

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Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Bill O'Brien, dated 18 July 2002:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
You ask how many cases have been referred to the Special Payments Department by the Child Support Agency over the past three years; and if the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will make a statement.
Each year the Child Support Agency receives over 300,000 new applications. It has a caseload of 1.1 million cases. Against that background it has referred 31,232 cases to its Special Payments Team for consideration of re-dress or a consolatory payment following a complaint.
I hope this is helpful.

TREASURY

Sickness Absence (Public Sector)

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has succeeded in delivering on the Government's plans in Cm 4011 to reduce public sector sickness absence by 20 per cent. between 1998 and 2001; and if he will make a statement. [66282]

Mr. Boateng [holding answer 4 July 2002]: These targets were recommended in the Cabinet Office report on the management of attendance in the public sector, ("Working Well Together").

It is not possible to say at this time whether the target has been met. Management data for the civil service and a number of other public sector employment groups are published in financial years format and will not be available before the autumn.

Network Rail

Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the documents which have been studied by the Office for National Statistics in deciding on the classification of Network Rail. [70511]

Mr. Boateng [holding answer 16 July 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 22 July 2002:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking if copies of all the documents which have been studied by the Office for National Statistics in deciding on the classification of Network Rail could be placed in the Library. (70511).
In deciding on the sector classification of Network Rail, the main documents that the ONS used were: international statistical manuals—The European System of Accounts (1955) and The System of National Accounts (1993), copies of which are available from the Library. The ONS also studied many legal documents, provided on a commercial and confidence basis. These documents are exempt from disclosure under section 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

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Office for National Statistics

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 July 2002, on the ONS, if he will place in the Library the recommendations that ONS made on each classification considered since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [70752]

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 22 July 2002:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question pursuant to the answer given on 8th July on the ONS, concerning what the recommendations the national statistics made on each classification considered since 1st January and if these recommendations could be placed in the Library. (70752)
We have already announced that in due course we will put all key national accounts classification decisions in the public domain. We are working towards full implementation of this policy. Four important decisions are already on the National Statistics website with supporting explanations.

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the ONS annual report and accounts for 2001–02 to be published. [72628]

Ruth Kelly: The Office for National Statistics annual report and accounts is being laid before the House today.

ZANU-PF

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many United Kingdom bank accounts have been frozen as a result of the EU selective sanctions against leading members of ZANU-PF; and what the value is of the money in those accounts. [71452]

Ruth Kelly: European Council Regulation 310/2002 places limits on the extent to which details regarding individual accounts and amounts frozen can be disclosed. However, a total of £76,000 in accounts belonging to two individuals listed in the regulation has been frozen.

Shooting Rights

Mr. Breed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he collates relating to VAT raised from the sale of shooting rights; and if he will place them in the Library. [71941]

John Healey: VAT is charged on shooting rights sold in the course of business unless they form part of a VAT exempt freehold sale of the land over which they may be exercised. No information is collected about the amount of VAT raised from shooting rights.

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