Martyn Langman

[mailto:[FOI #5304 email]]

Dear Mr Langman,

Thank you for your e-mail dated 31 December 2008 in which you made a request for the Child Support Agency's information. Your request has been considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please find below a copy of your request together with a corresponding response.

Request

Can you supply me with the postal and e-mail address of the person/department I should make a request to, for information about me I am entitled to under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Response

The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. The Commission took responsibility for the child maintenance system on 1 November 2008. It is a new Non-Departmental Public Body which takes responsibility for the child maintenance system in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Child Support Agency produces a leaflet, CSL 311 - How does the Child Support Agency use and store information? The leaflet explains how you can get access to any information we have stored about you and is available on the Child Support Agency website at the following address:

http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/about/publications-current-leaflets.asp

I have included an extract from the leaflet below:

Can I have access to my personal information?

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you can ask what personal information we hold about you on computer and in some paper records. You must ask us in writing and give us information to help us check your identity, including:

You need to give enough detail - for example, the CSA office you deal with - to help us to identify and find the information. You should send the letter to:

• the Data Protection Officer at the CSA office that deals with your case, or

The Child Support Agency

Data Protection Unit

Room BP6002

Benton Park View

Longbenton

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE98 1YX.

We'll send you a copy of the information if we have it. We'll do this as soon as possible, and within 40 days.

If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request please tell us why, to the e-mail address above, within two calendar months of the date of this letter. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will then arrange for someone to conduct an internal review of your request and its handling/decision. The review will be conducted by a senior officer. This person will have taken no part in the original decision. You will be advised of their decision in writing.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner to look into the way your request has been handled. Please note that generally the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's own complaints procedure.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

FOI Complaints Resolution
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Fax: 01625 524510
email: [email address]

Yours sincerely

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Freedom of Information Act Focal Point