(2) when the Child Support Agency Annual Report 2007 will be published.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 October 2007:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the reasons are for the time taken to produce the Child Support Agency’s Annual Report for 2007; and if he will make a statement. [160369]
and
You also asked when the Child Support Agency Annual Report 2007 will be published. [160370]
National Audit Office (NAO) decided before summer recess that they needed to undertake further work on the Child Support Agency’s Client Funds Account. This has resulted in a delay in these accounts being finalised. As a result, the Agency was not in a position to lay the Annual Report and Accounts for 2006/07 in the House of Commons, or publish them before recess as planned.
The Agency’s Administration Account was finalised with an unqualified audit opinion before recess. This ensured that the Department’s resource accounts could be finalised and published.
The Agency has continued to work with NAO over the summer. They have now concluded their work, which has allowed the Agency to complete the Client Funds Account. The NAO have prepared a draft report for inclusion in the Agency’s Annual Report which is currently under consideration. Once the NAO Report has been finalised the Agency will arrange for the Annual Report and Accounts for 2006/07 to be laid in the House of Commons and for their subsequent publication. I am afraid I am unable to give a definitive date for publication at this stage.
The Office for National Statistics published the Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS) on the 24th October 2007. It contains the most up date information on the Agency’s Performance. I have included details of the internet link below for ease of reference.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2007/oct/hse044-241007.pdf
I hope you find this answer helpful.