§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on what plans he has for existing Child Support Agency customers to be progressed on to the new regulations from April 2002; [19899]
(2) if he will make a statement on the means by which individual CSA customers will be able to seek a review of their cases after the introduction of the new regulations; and what repayments will be backdated to the start of the new regime. [19900]
§ Malcolm WicksChanges to the child support scheme will take effect for new cases from April 2002. Existing cases will be transferred to the new scheme about a year later. The precise date will be announced when we are confident that it is working well for new cases.
When CSA converts existing cases both parents will be notified of the decision and how it has been arrived at. For the vast majority of existing cases the new calculation will take effect from a common date. Either parent can ask the CSA to look at the decision again within one month of notification if they think that it is wrong. If the CSA accepts that the decision is wrong they will correct it straight away. If it turns out that the non-resident parent has overpaid maintenance in the meantime the sums involved may be refunded or offset against future liability.
Either parent can also appeal against the CSA's decision to an independent tribunal who will consider whether the agency applied the law correctly.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will outline his policy towards disclosure under CSA regulations; how he plans to change it after1170W April 2002 in respect of departures; and what impact this will have upon the rights of a new partner to a parent with non-resident responsibilities. [19901]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Child Support Agency treats the protection of personal information very seriously and it will only disclose information gathered for child support purposes in circumstances permitted by law.
Changes to the child support scheme, which are to be introduced for new cases by April 2002, will not include any provision for departures. However, either parent will be able to apply for the child support rates to be varied in specified, exceptional cases. The decision making process for variations will be streamlined. Applications for a variation can be submitted before the maintenance calculation has been made, thus enabling the system to operate more quickly.
The financial details of a NRP's new partner will not normally be relevant in the changed child support scheme.