HC Deb 25 March 1994 vol 240 cc451-3W
Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the financial target of the Child Support Agency for the current year; and to what extent it has been met.

Mr. Scott

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994:

I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, about the financial target for the Child Support Agency in the current year.The Secretary of State set the Agency a benefit savings target of £530 million for the year 1993–94.We are not yet able to provide an assessment of the level of benefit savings that the Agency will achieve in the year because of uncertainties caused by the effect of the recent policy changes.I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents have been traced by the Child Support Agency; how many are paying; and how much money has been collected.

Mr. Scott

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994:

I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents traced by the Child Support Agency, the number paying, and the money collected.As at 31 January, the Agency had issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,000 absent parents. These included 19,000 absent parents whose whereabouts were not known prior to the Agency's involvement in tracing them. Two thirds of the enquiry forms have been returned leading to the completion of over 170,000 maintenance assessments.With regard to how many absent parents are paying, the Child Support Computer System records client's details on an individual case by case basis, and it is not currently configured to produce information on the total number of absent parents paying maintenance.Information on the amount of money collected is, however, available. As at 31 January, £181 million had been collected. This includes money paid via the Agency, and also directly to the parent with care for the absent parent.I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of those who have been contacted by the Child Support Agency have previously made no contribution to the maintenance of their first family;

(2) what percentage of those targeted by the Child Support Agency are subject to court orders and have already been contributing to the maintenance of their first families.

Mr. Scott

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive, She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Matthew Banks, dated 25 March 1994:

I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about absent parents and whether they were maintaining their children before the Child Support Agency assessed their cases.Up to 31 January 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the Agency issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,300 absent parents, of which 170,700 have resulted in the assessment of maintenance. Figures are not kept on the number of cases in which a prior maintenance agreement existed. It is estimated however, that 56 per cent. of cases taken on will not have had an existing arrangement, and 44 per cent. will have had an existing maintenance agreement, a proportion of which would include court orders.I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Ashby

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what money has been received as a result of the activities of the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Scott

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Ashby, dated 25 March 1994:

I am repling to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the money collected by the Child Support Agency.As at 31 January, £181 million had been collected. This includes money paid via the Agency, and also directly to the parent with care from the absent parent.I hope this reply is helpful.
Mr. Ashby

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the assessments carried out by the Child Support Agency are in respect of fathers who pay nothing towards the support of their children.

Mr. Scott

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. David Ashby, dated 25 March 1994:

I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents who were not maintaining their children before the Child Support Agency assessed their cases.Up to 31 January 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, the Agency issued maintenance enquiry forms to 381,300 absent parents, of which 170,700 have resulted in the assessment of maintenance. Figures are not kept on the number of cases in which a prior maintenance agreement existed. It is estimated however, that 56 per cent. of cases taken on will not have had an existing arrangement.I hope this reply is helpful.