Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2005): Social Security - UK

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY

Work and Pensions Committee

London: TSO, 2005 (House of Commons papers, session 2004/05; HC44)

Concludes that the Child Support Agency is a failing organisation which is currently in crisis. This is due to a failure of senior management leadership, inadequate training for frontline staff, and the delayed implementation of a new IT system. If there is no prospect of significant improvement in response to this critical report, the Committee recommends that the Agency should be wound up.

WORK AND FAMILIES: CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY: A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Department of Trade and Industry

London: 2005

Consultation includes proposals to:

• extend maternity pay from six months to nine months by April 2007, with the goal of a year's paid maternity leave by the end of the next Parliament;
• introduce a new right for mothers to transfer a proportion of their maternity leave and pay to fathers;
• consider extending the right to request flexible working hours to carers of adults and parents of older children;
• give greater certainty to employers about when employees are returning to work;
• simplify the administration of maternity leave and pay.

(For discussion see Public Finance, Apr.1st-7th 2005,p.22-25)