Shake-up for troubled CSA

Blunkett plans a 'root and branch' reform

Work and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett plans a 'root and branch' reform of the troubled Child Support Agency following its failure to transfer old cases to its new computer system.

Blunkett announced proposals for a new mediation process intended to agree payments by absent parents before they become involved with the agency in to try to reduce pressure on the system.

Speaking at Labour's Brighton conference he said the reform - the second since the agency was set up - will be published by the end of the year.

'We will publish by the end of the year key findings of a root and branch review of the operation of the Child Support Agency, which ministers are working on now with new Chief Executive Stephen Geraghty,' Blunkett said.

In an earlier GMTV television interview, Blunkett said the CSA had failed to deliver, adding: 'It has been a complete shambles and I am absolutely determined that we are going to do something about it.'

Officials say the service will be piloted in the New Year.