Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill
10:47 am
Lord McKenzie: Under the Bill, at the point that functions transfer from the CSA to CMEC, there will be a TUPE transfer of all staff. There is provision for the Secretary of State to carve out some people who will not, which is envisaged to be some contractors who may be working at that stage. So everybody moves in at that stage with the opportunity of remaining in the civil service pension scheme, too, and with the prospect of vacancies arising in the Department being available to them as if they had not transferred. Those are quite important protections.
In relation to head count, Stephen may wish to comment in more detail. Obviously, as we are expecting a lower level of use of the commission than is currently part of the CSA’s casework, and with improvements to IT systems, fewer staff will be required eventually than will be needed at the start of the process.
You asked about training. Clearly, with potentially new or enhanced bases of assessment and new responsibilities relating to ensuring effective maintenance arrangements generally, training for staff will need to be properly provided for. Stephen or Hilary might be able to comment on the extent to which we are developing that.