§ Lord Harris of Greenwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the statement made by Ms Ros Hepplewhite, Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency in a Written Answer (HL Deb., 19th October 1993, cols. WA43–44) that "a person said to be the absent parent (will be) approached only if there is a reasonable certainty that the correct person has been identified", why Mr. Steven Sheppard of Bristol and Mr. Paul Allen of Horndean, Hampshire were wrongly accused by the agency of being the fathers of illegitimate children; what form of apology has been offered; why the errors were made; and whether Ministers have confidence in the administration of the agency.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Viscount Astor)The department very much regrets any distress or embarrassment caused to Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Allen as a result of enquiries made by the Child Support 123WA Agency. In both cases maintenance enquiry forms were sent out as a consequence of clerical errors and I understand that full written apologies have been sent to both Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Allen. Of the 344,000 maintenance enquiry forms issued to the end of December 1993, less than 0.05 per cent. have been withdrawn due to error. I am happy to tell the noble Lord that the Government have every confidence in the administration of the agency.