§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in what percentage of the total number of cases where absent parents are in receipt of income support maintenance payments deducted from benefit have not been passed on to the parent with care;
(2) in how many cases to date the minimum child maintenance has been deducted from the benefit paid to absent parents on income support but not passed on to the parent with care.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 23 February 1994:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking about the payment of child maintenance by absent parents receiving income support.
Where the absent parent is receiving income support, and has been assessed to pay the minimum amount of £2.20 and the parent with care is not receiving benefit, payment is transferred to the parent with care quarterly in arrears.
There have been a number of cases where maintenance: payments have not been forwarded. The Child Support Agency very much regrets that this should have occurred. Payments are now being made, and in all cases should be up to date within a fortnight. New arrangements have also been put in place to ensure that payments will be made on time in future.
I hope that you find this reply helpful.