The administration of the child maintenance system is a matter for the commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans there are to pay bonuses to staff at the Child Support Agency in respect of the present year. [242173]
The Child Support Agency was an executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions until 31 October 2008 when responsibility for the Agency and its people transferred to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. In this present year the Commission will operate bonus schemes similar to those already agreed when the Agency was part of the Department for Work and Pensions.
There are two bonus schemes: the individual performance bonus scheme and the special bonus scheme. Individual performance bonuses are based on annual appraisals markings and are awarded at the end of the operational year. Additional special bonuses can be awarded to an individual outside the annual appraisal system, to recognise and reward an exceptional personal or team achievement.
I hope you find this answer helpful.