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Social Security (National Insurance Credits) Amendment Regulations 2007

My Lords, the transfer from NIRS1 to NIRS2 took place in 1998, and that was certainly a key factor in the errors that arose. For the avoidance of doubt, I can say that checking is going on right back to that earlier period. In his presentation the noble Lord asked when NIRS2 was developed. I do not have a precise starting date, but it was clearly developed some time before 1998 because that is when it was actioned. Earlier I did not answer the point about the OGC reviews and the red flags that were given to certain projects. The whole purpose of such reviews is for someone external to come in and look at the teams that are producing change, to check that their systems are up to scratch and that they are doing the testing and putting in all the arrangements that they should in order to deliver on the desired policies. The fact that from time to time there are red, or sometimes orange, flags is entirely consistent with what they are required to do, and is one of the Government’s safeguards.