Child Support Agency chief resigns
Doug Smith, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency has resigned, it has emerged today.
It follows strong criticism of the agency’s work, particularly over the installation of a £456 million IT system, which was supposed to improve performance.
Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson told a committee of MPs on Wednesday that Mr Smith had decided the time had come to stand aside.
The agency is supposed to collect and pay child support maintenance, to ensure that absent parents meet their financial responsibilities.
But thousands of single mothers and fathers are still not receiving payment from absent parents.
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb said the CSA was in “a state of chaos” and should be scrapped. He said it was right for Mr Smith to go, but he must not be made a scapegoat for the failures of the Government and computer firm, EDS.
“Successive governments have failed to get a grip on the whole Child Support system. It is now like a worn tyre that has been patched so many times it is beyond repair and should be scrapped,” he said.
“The Inland Revenue already holds information about family incomes and about children so could easily take over the assessment of child maintenance. The Inland Revenue would also be far more effective than the CSA at collecting maintenance.”
The Work and Pensions Secretary was giving evidence to the Work and Pensions select committee, where it was anticipated he would get a rough ride over the performance of the CSA.
