Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Monday, 9 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 January 2006. It was answered by James Plaskitt (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Child Support Agency

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many software and management information system IT updates agreed with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) have been made to the CS2 computer system since March 2003; what future planned IT software releases have been agreed between the Child Support Agency and EDS; and on what date each is expected to be released.

Answer: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 18 January 2006:"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, how many software and management information system IT updates agreed with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) have been made to the CS2 computer system since March 2003; and if he will give the dates and details of any future planned IT software releases agreed between the Child Support Agency and EDS.""Since March 2003 there have been 13 system releases on the new CS2 Computer System, 10 system releases on the Management Information System and 11 Telephony related IT releases.""Under a general realignment of DWP contracts, which came into effect from 15 August 2005, EDS are contracted to undertake a number of releases agreed with the Child Support Agency between now and the end of 2007, designed to remove the large majority of existing defects."

Secondary information