A computer systems problem at
HR Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has delayed payments to 50,000
child trust-fund accounts.
Kitty Ussher, economic secretary to the treasury, told a
Treasury select committee this week that the delay had been caused
by a computer programming error.
A Treasury spokesman said the error was caused by external
contractor CapGemini, which runs HMRC's computer systems, but said
the problem would not affect any beneficiaries.
"While we are taking the matter very seriously, none of these
accounts will be accessed for over a decade and the government will
make sure no child missed out," he said.
Only payments to the trust funds of children qualifying for
supplementary benefits had been affected, he said, and all these
would be paid in full with 8% interest.
The government's child trust fund set up in 2002 will start
paying out only in 2010 when the first children included in the
scheme start turning 18.
In a statement, Capgemini acknowledged the error and said it had
apologised to HMRC and had agreed to fully compensate the HMRC.
"We would also like to convey our apologies to the families
involved, and we are working with HMRC to ensure that the payments
due are made as quickly as possible," the statement said.