§ 27. Mr. GristTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the work of his Department's liable relatives officers.
§ Mr. JackLiable relative officers work within the current maintenance system to obtain maintenance for people claiming income support so that people are not unnecessarily dependent on income support because someone who can afford to pay maintenance fails to do so. We have carried out a wide-ranging review of the whole system of maintenance for children, and the Child Support Bill now before Parliament contains proposals for a new child maintenance system. Under the new system, assessment of maintenance for children will be by a standard formula. In addition, there will be a Child Support Agency dedicated to the assessment, collection and enforcement of child maintenance. The agency's services will be available to all parents bringing up children where maintenance is an issue.