§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were(a) the running costs of the Child Support Agency and (b) the costs incurred by his Department in dealing with Child Support Agency matters in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95. [24831]
§ Mr. BurtThe annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 1994 were published on 28 November 1994. These included an expenditure statement prepared on an accruals basis and show that the net cost of operations during 1993–94 was £139 million. Similar accounts will be prepared for 1994–95 and published in the agency annual report.
It is not possible to identify separately the expenditure incurred by the Departmental headquarters in respect of Child Support Agency matters.
§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time the Child Support Agency takes to make an assessment; and thereafter in what period those assessed have to make a payment. [20138]
§ Mr. Burt[Pursuant to his reply Official Report, column 106, 1 May.]: The information I gave regarding the time taken to complete an assessment was incorrect. The correct information is as follows:
331WThe length of time taken to complete an assessment is variable as it depends on the receipt of information from various sources. Once the agency has all the information it needs, it is currently taking 99 days to complete an assessment. Where no payment is received within 14 days from notification of the maintenance assessment, the agency can consider enforcement action.
§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update(a) table G2.04, relating to benefit status of parent or person with care and absent parent, (b) table G2.07 relating to net income from employment of absent parents where maintenance has been assessed and (c) table G2.08 relating to distribution of maintenance assessments of the "Social Security Statistics 1994" by reference to the most recent data from the caseload of the Child Support Agency. [24836]
§ Mr. BurtThe information requested, based on information available at March 1995, is in the tables.
Benefit Status of Parent with Care and Absent Parent at 11 March 1995 Thousands Absent parents Parents with care Total 1On Income Support On Invalidity Benefit, Sickness Benefit or UB Not on benefit Benefit Status not Known Total 488.0 90.1 21.9 172.3 203.7 IS 391.0 77.8 18.2 138.9 156.1 FAMC/DWA 63.6 9.5 2.6 19.5 32.0 No benefit 33.4 2.8 1.1 13.9 15.6 Notes: 1 Includes some cases on Invalidity Benefit, Sickness Benefit or UB. In some cases where the MEF was returned the AP's benefit status was not recorded and so the available information on APs may not be fully representative of all cases.
Net income from employment of Absent Parents at 11 March 1995 where maintenance has been assessed Maintenance Assessments £ per week 000's Percentage All Absent Parents — 267.5 100.0 APs with no employment income — 117.1 43.8 APs with employment income — 150.4 56.2 Average net employment income (£pw) 195.67 — — Net employment income (£pw) Up to 49.99 — 3.9 1.5 £50.00–£99.99 — 8.2 3.1 £100.00–£149.99 — 33.5 12.5 £150.00–£199.99 — 43.0 16.1 £200.00–£249.99 — 31.1 11.6 £250.00–£299.99 — 16.9 6.3 £300.00 or more — 13.8 5.2 Note:
Net income from employment is gross pay less income tax and National Insurance contributions. Average net income is the mean for APs with income from employment.
332W
Distribution of Maintenance Assessments at 11 March 1995 Maintenance Assessments £ per week 000's percentage Full Maintenance Assessments1—AP not on Income support All assessments — 175.0 100.0 Average Maintenance Assessment (£pw) 37.22 — — £0 — 18.3 10.5 £0.01–2.30 — 24.4 13.9 £2.31–£5.00 — 1.8 1.0 £5.01–£9.99 — 4.5 2.6 £10.00–£19.99 — 11.8 6.7 £20.00–£29.99 — 15.1 8.6 £30.00–£39.99 — 18.8 10.7 £40.00–£49.99 — 18.6 10.6 £50.00–£59.99 — 17.0 9.7 £60.00–£69.99 — 17.8 10.2 £70.00–£79.99 — 13.1 7.5 £80.00–£89.99 — 7.7 4.4 £90.00–£99.99 — 3.6 2.1 £100–£109.99 — 1.3 0.7 £100–£119.99 — 0.4 0.2 £120+ — 0.8 0.5 Full Maintenance Assessments1—AP on Income Support All assessments — 82.9 100.0 Average Maintenance Assessment (£pw) 0.93 — — £0 — 48.8 58.9 £2.20 — 12.1 14.6 £2.30 — 22 26.5 Interim Maintenance Assessments2 All assessments — 87.5 100.0 Average Maintenance Assessment (£pw) 96.34 — — Under 30.00 — 0.0 0.0 £30.00–£39.99 — 1.1 1.3 £40.00–£49.99 — 3.0 3.4 £50.00–£59.99 — 8.7 9.9 £60.00–£69.99 — 3.0 3.4 £70.00–£79.99 — 2.5 2.9 £80.00–£89.99 — 1.9 2.2 £90.00–£99.99 — 30.3 34.6 £100–£109.99 — 12.9 14.7 £110–£119.99 — 13.3 15.2 £120+ — 10.8 12.3 1 Includes Category 'B' Interim Maintenance Assessments. 2 Excludes Category 'B' Interim Maintenance Assessments. Note:
Category 'B' Interim Maintenance Assessments are made when insufficient information has been provided about the partners of the AP, PWC or about some other member of their households.