§ Lord Houghton of Sowerbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made towards implementation of the Child Support Act, including the present staffing of the agency established by the Act.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)A number of regulations made under the Child Support Act 1991 have already been made, and the remaining framework will be laid by the end of the year. The Child Support Agency does not become operational until 5th April 1993. There are, however, currently 2,600 staff employed by the Child Support Unit within the DSS which operates the existing child maintenance law and whose job it is to prepare for the establishment of the new agency. The number of staff will increase to 4,300 by 5th April 1993.