§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many maintenance assessment forms have been issued by the Child Support Agency since 5 April; how many completed forms have been returned to the agency; and how many maintenance assessments have been calculated and put into operation.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Mrs. Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Barry Jones, dated 10 June 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many maintenance assessment forms have been issued by the Agency since 5 April, how many completed forms have been returned to the Agency and how many maintenance assessments have been calculated and put into action.It is as yet very early days in the setting up of the Agency but we do have reliable figures for the month of April which, allowing for the Easter break, covered the Agency's first 17 working days. For that period, from 5 April to 30 April, more than 45,000 Maintenance Application Forms were issued and over 19,000 completed forms were returned. Twenty-five maintenance assessments were calculated and the parents notified.The process of assessing maintenance under the Child Support Act of its nature takes some time, as it involves first the parent with care completing a form (the Maintenance Assessment Form) to enable the absent parent to be traced and sent a second form (the Maintenance Enquiry Form) for completion. Both forms need to be checked for accuracy before a computer assessment can be made.In a straightforward case, when both parents reply quickly and fully and supply all the necessary information, we have estimated that it will take 6–8 weeks from the date of application to assess the maintenance which is payable. Many cases are not straightforward, however, and further enquiries are necessary from either or both parents. This lengthens clearance times but I am confident the Agency has got off to a successful start.I hope this reply is useful. It will be published in the Official Record and a copy placed in the Library.