§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases the maintenance assessment by the Child Support Agency has been lower than a previous maintenance agreement.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. and learned Friend.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 25 January 1994:
271WI am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking for the number of cases in which the maintenance assessment of the Child Support Agency has been lower than a previous maintenance agreement.The Agency does not routinely have information on the amounts of maintenance awarded, and therefore cannot make the comparsion asked for. Average court payments however, prior to 5 April 1993, when the Agency took over from the courts most of its work on assessment and collection and child maintanence, were £25 to £30 a week. Under the Agency's formula, we estimate that payments will average £45 to £50 a week.I hope that you find this reply useful.