While the Child Support Agency undergoes substantial reforms, the computer software which many ministers have blamed for the performance of the under fire agency, looks to be safe. EDS, the US software company behind the system, have a contract that runs until 2010 and are subject to a number of clauses which could cost them GBP12 million should they fail to fix the problems with the system.
It is expected that it will take another two years to get the system operating at the original design specification, though with the cost of pulling the plug estimated to be around GBP456 million, this may be the only option left to the government.
