HC Deb 05 February 1996 vol 271 c77W
Rev. William McCrea

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation in Northern Ireland of the review procedure of the Child Support Agency. [12546]

Mr. Moss

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Child Support Agency under its chief executive, Patrick Devlin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from P. Devlin to Rev. William McCrea, dated 5 February 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your question about the operation in Northern Ireland of the review procedure of the Child Support Agency.

The procedures used by the Agency in reviewing child maintenance assessments are governed by the provisions of the Child Support (NI) Order 1991; the Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations (NI) 1992 and the Child Support (NI) Order 1995.

Where either parent is not satisfied with a decision of a Child Support Officer he or she may ask for it to be reviewed. The case is then reconsidered by a different Child Support Officer who may refuse to review the decision; or may review and confirm or review and revise the assessment.

If either party remains aggrieved by the decision of a Child Support Officer in respect of a review or a refusal to refuse an assessment, he or she may appeal to a Child Support Appeal Tribunal.

During the period 6 April 1995 to 18 January 1996 the Agency reviewed 2273 maintenance assessments. In the same period the Agency referred 78 appeals to the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS).

I hope you find this information useful.