Child Support Agency (Hansard, 7 March 1994)

§ Mr. Hall
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been sent assessment forms so far this year by the Child Support Agency; what will the total number of assessment forms by the Child Support Agency in 1993–94; and how many assessment forms will be issued by the Child Support Agency in the following years 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97.

§ Mr. Burt
The 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. Mike Hall, dated 4 March 1994: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the number of maintenance assessment forms sent by the Child Support Agency. In the period 5 April to 31 December 1993 the Agency issued 711,000 maintenance application forms to parents with care. It is not possible to give estimates of the expected number of application forms which will be issued in future years, but overall the Agency expects to be dealing with around one million parents with care in each year. I hope this reply is useful.

§ Mr. Hall
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average maintenance settlement issued by the Child Support Agency; what is the average maintenance payment collected by the Child Support Agency; and how many of those contacted by the Child Support Agency already paid maintenance under existing arrangements.

§ Mr. Burt
The 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. Mike Hall, dated 4 March 1994: I am replying to you recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency. You asked about the average maintenance assessment made and collected by the Agency. Initial estimates were that average weekly maintenance assessments by the Agency would be approximately £45–£50 a week. Information gathered on assessments completed to date, and the amounts the Agency therefore expects to collect, is consistent with these estimates. You also ask about clients with existing maintenance arrangements. To the end of December 1993, the Agency had issued maintenance enquiry forms to 344,000 absent parents. 38W Figures were not kept on the proportion of these cases in which maintenance was not already being paid. We estimate, however, that about 55 per cent. of cases taken-on by the Agency were not already receiving maintenance. I hope this reply is helpful.

§ Mr. Hall
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have started to pay maintenance in line with the Child Support Agency assessments.

§ Mr. Burt
The 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. Mike Hall, dated 4 March 1994: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of people paying maintenance to the Child Support Agency. The Child Support Computer System records clients' details on an individual case by case basis. It is not currently configured to produce the information in the form requested. It may be helpful, however, if I explain that as at 31 December 1993 the Agency had completed 121,600 assessments of which over half were issued in the last two months. I hope this reply is useful.