HC Deb 31 January 1994 vol 236 cc579-80W
21. Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for further changes to the operation of the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

The recently announced changes were formulated in the light of representations received from hon. Members and the public, and of the recommendations of the Social Security Select Committee. They form a balanced package which takes account of the interests of children, parents with care, absent parents, and the taxpayer.

There are no plans for further change.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there is a distinction under the terms of the Child Support Act 1991 between who can be notified of the outcome of a maintenance assessment decision dependent on whether the case is being dealt with in England and Wales or in Scotland.

Mr. Burt

The only such distinction is that a child who is over the age of 11 years and is resident in Scotland may apply to the Child Support Agency for maintenance assessment to be made in respect of him. If he makes such an application he, together with the parent with care and the absent parent are notified of the outcome of the application. There is no provision for a child resident in England or Wales to make an application under the Child Support Act.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland considers representations made by residents of Wales on Child Support Agency matters.

Mr. Burt

Where an application for child support maintenance is made by a parent with care who is resident in Northern Ireland in respect of an absent parent who is resident in Wales, the application would be dealt with in Northern Ireland, in accordance with the Child Support (Great Britain Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations (Northern Ireland). Similarly, if a number of cases are linked together because they share a parent in common all the cases are dealt with under the legislation under which the first application was considered. In these cases, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland would consider representations other than those proper to the independent adjudicating authorities.

Mr. Quentin Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what revenues or savings to public funds are expected to accrue as a result of the creation of the Child Support Agency; and what changes in the expected revenues or savings will arise from the implementation of the proposed changes in the agency's rules.

Mr. Burt

The amount of child support maintenance originally estimated to be collected in 1993–94 is £530 million. The actual amount will be lower than the estimate, but it is not possible to provide an accurate revised figure, since the full impact of the proposed policy changes is not yet known.

28. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement summarising changes the Government are introducing into the operation of the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

The proposed changes include: a significant increase in the margin of protected income which all absent parents keep above income support levels; reductions in the element within the formula which reflects the care needed by children, when the youngest child reaches age 11 and 14; reductions in the rate of contribution towards the additional element, above the basic maintenance requirement, where there are fewer than three children; and a substantial extension of the provisions for phasing in new payments for absent parents who previously had a formal maintenance agreement.

The changes form a balanced package which takes account of the interests of parents with care, absent parents, children and the taxpayer.