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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 June, Official Report, columns 228-29, on the Child Support Agency computer system, if he will (a) provide a definition of nationally sensitive or locally sensitive cases and (b) set out the procedures that are followed in designating a case as either nationally or locally sensitive.[37114] Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member. Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 16 July 1996: I am replying to the your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency Computer System. A case is considered nationally sensitive if it involves a VIP; any person so deemed for security reasons; or a transsexual. Decisions on whether a case is to be marked nationally sensitive are made by a section of the Contributions Agency (CA). This classification is then applied to all the Department's computer systems. At present a case is considered locally sensitive if it involves a member of staff, their partner or a relative of either party; a local dignitary; or any person who asks for their case to be treated as sensitive. These criteria have been reviewed recently and the revised procedures are soon to be issued. The revised instructions state that a case should be regarded as locally sensitive if the Parent With Care (PWC) or Absent Parent (AP) is employed by CSA; a close relative (mother, father, brother or sister) of the PWC or AP is employed by CSA; a member of staff has an interest in a case; or the PWC or AP has requested the case to be made sensitive and the manager considers the request to be valid. The classification applies only on the Child Support Computer System (CSCS). You also asked about the procedures followed in classifying cases as sensitive. Each Child Support Agency Centre (CSAC) has a nominated manger who is the focal point for sensitive cases. If a case is identified as being potentially nationally sensitive, the Manager contacts the appropriate section in CA. If CA accepts the case as nationally sensitive all the Department's computer system are annotated accordingly. The nominated manager maintains a control record showing the case details, and all requests to have access to them. All papers are locked away in accommodation separate from the non-sensitive cases. The same procedures are followed for cases designated as locally sensitive except that the decision on classification is made by a CSA manager and the classification is annotated only on the CSCS, not the other Departmental computer system. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

37114; 281 c546-7W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Children Disclosure of information Databases Computers Child Support Agency Maintenance