Sir.-Regarding the closure of the Child Support Agency (CSA) office in Basingstoke.

It has finally been acknowledged, publicly, that the CSA is a complete shambles, and the department shows systemic mis-management.

I feel Doug Smith and the executive committee have seriously let down their clients, i.e. children and the families.

The staff working under this regime, using an inadequate computer system, are totally demoralised.

Doug Smith has consequently resigned - but it's too little too late! I feel this mismanagement has caused irreparable damage to thousands of children and their parents, and also staff and their families.

One particular dictate that I am concerned about is the closure of the Basingstoke CSA office, which has approximately 100 staff.

On April 3, Doug Smith published the closure of the Basingstoke office on the department's intranet. The reasons given, at a later date, were The Lyons review (to move jobs from the South East to the North) and budget directive (to reduce the Civil Service by more than 100,000).

A few months later, more than 200 staff were appointed in Plymouth CSA office, the SW region head office.

According to simple calculations and geography, the staff number has been increased considerably and moved South.

Incidentally, it is my understanding that the overtime bill for the Plymouth office has also risen sharply - presumably because they cannot cope with the workload - which leads to an increase in cost for the taxpayer.

What next?

To minimise further misery, I feel a completely new, and credible management must be appointed swiftly, followed by an objective review of the whole system.

Meanwhile, in my opinion, there has to be an immediate freeze on all closures and recruitment, so allowing the present demoralised staff to do their work as best they can.

-Name and address withheld.