Examination of Witnesses (Questions 40
- 43)
TUESDAY 8 APRIL 2003
MR KIT
CHIVERS AND
MR ARRAN
POYSER
40. Absolutely, but you cannot do that at the
moment, can you?
(Mr Chivers) We cannot do that at the moment, that
is a real void in the system.
41. How long is this going to go on for? As
the Director of the Inspection Unit, have you put forward your
views as to how long this unacceptable state of affairs can continue?
(Mr Poyser) We have not had a discussion directly
about that in recent months. We discussed it when we were at headquarters
in November and the view there was that it would take at least
another year, as I recall, before such a system could be up and
running. We have not yet engaged, outside individual inspections,
in a dialogue about what might be the specification for such a
system and how it would be of use throughout CAFCASS as well as
linking in with the judiciary.
42. I understand that, but do you not think
a year's wait is actually a very long time when we are dealing
with the urgent need to track these cases on a national basis?
This is 2003, we can land people on the moon, etcetera.
(Mr Poyser) I think there is some nervousness about
public IT projects going wrong and ending up producing information
that is not terribly helpful and I think that is what has bedevilled
the situation so far, a lack of clarity as to what is needed by
whom, when, how often and for what sort of purposes and then ensuring
that it happens. One regrets the delay. If in a year's time they
have got it right there might be some applause. If in a year's
time they have still got it wrong or it is not there then there
would be even more frustration. There is a danger in rushing into
it too soon and getting it totally wrong.
43. So that is the reason, because they were
rushing in too soon?
(Mr Poyser) That is the reason why CAFCASS suspended
the project back in July 2001. I do not think that is the total
reason why they have not been able to produce it yet.
Chairman: Mr Chivers, Mr Poyser, we are
very grateful to you both. We will proceed further with our inquiries.
The judiciary are waiting to speak to us. Thank you.
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