HC Deb 16 May 1994 vol 243 cc350-2W
13. Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has had in the last month on his policy on the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

During April 1994 Ministers received representations from hon. Members, organisations and members of the public about various child support issues, some favourable, others not.

14. Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he now estimates the Child Support Agency will collect in its first year of operation.

Mr. Burt

Provisional figures show that to the end of March the Agency had recorded £210 million as collected. This is not the total amount for the year, however. It does not include, for example, maintenance paid direct by absent parents to parents with care where benefit is not an issue. Nor does it include some other amounts collected which will be scored retrospectively.

15. Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to meet hon. Members to discuss the working of the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Lilley

Ministers always give sympathetic consideration to requests from hon. Members to discuss particular issues.

18. Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further changes he expects to introduce to the Child Support Agency.

23. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to amend the Child Support Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the working of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Burt

We have no immediate plans for change but are keeping the operation of the Child Support Agency under review.

25. Mr. Hoon

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are now paying maintenance as a result of the Child Support Agency's activities who were not paying it previously.

Mr. Burt

As at 31 March, 205,540 maintenance assessments had been completed. It is estimated that almost 60 per cent. of cases taken on by the agency were not already receiving maintenance.

27. Sir David Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received concerning proposals for further changes in the child support regulations.

Mr. Burt

Between 5 April 1993 and 30 April 1994 Ministers received 13,081 letters about child support. The cost of establishing how many of these suggest changes to regulations would be disproportionately high.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the changes in family credit payments during the period of the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

The information provided in the table is for 31 March 1993, immediately prior to the introduction of the Child Support Agency, and 31 October 1993, the latest date for which information is available.

March 19931 October 19932
Number of Family Credit recipients 485,000 520,000
Number of recipients with maintenance 66,000 80,000
Number of recipients without maintenance 419,000 440,000
Average award of all Family Credit recipients £42.34 £45.97
Average award of recipients with maintenance £45.90 £48.40
Average award of recipients without maintenance £41.78 £45.53
1 Source: Five per cent. sample of Family Credit recipients at 31 March 1993.
2 Source: Five per cent. sample of Family Credit recipients at 31 October 1993.

Mr. Bill Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding publication of the Child Support Agency collection and enforcement manual.

Mr. Burt

There have been a small number of representations regarding the publication of the Child Support Agency's collection and enforcement manual. However, there is good reason for the manual not to be available as it contains detailed guidance on the actions to be taken when enforcing, or deciding whether to enforce child maintenance and could allow a person liable to pay maintenance to delay or possibly avoid enforcement action being brought against him or her.