HC Deb 25 May 1994 vol 244 cc190-2W
Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 31 March,Official Report, column 1025, if he will give the percentage of cases cleared by individual Child Support Agency centres during each quarter of 1993–94 in (a) under 40 days, (b) between 40 and 100 days and (c) over 100 days; and when he expects to be able to provide detailed information as to the average time taken for each stage of the assessment process.

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 shortly.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 25 May 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking about clearance times for the maintenance application process. Figures for the first two quarters covering the period 5 April to 30 September 1993 are not available. Figures for the third and fourth quarters are shown in the attached annex. Information on the time taken to deal with maintenance application and enquiry forms is currently being validated and should be available shortly. In my earlier reply of 31 March 1994, I said that the figures quoted were year to date figures from 5 April 1993. I have since established that they were year to date figures from 1 October 1993 as figures prior to that date are not available. Please accept my apologies for this mistake. The answer also corrects information given to the honourable member for Glasgow Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 18 February 1994 at Col 1023, and the honourable member for Dunfermline West (Ms Squire) on 8 March 1994 at Cols 215–216.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what figures are available to show waiting times between the parent with care contacting the Child Support Agency and an initial maintenance inquiry form being dispatched.

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. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 May 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the time taken between a parent with care contacting the Agency and a maintenance enquiry form being issued to the absent parent. Contact between a parent with care and the Agency normally begins when the Agency issues a maintenance application form to the parent with care. In a small proportion of cases, however, the parent with care may contact the Agency to request such a form. Information on the time taken to deal with maintenance application forms, measured from the date on which the form is issued to the date on which processing of the form is completed, is currently being validated and should be available shortly. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Child Support Agency contacts the parent with care in all cases where a delay occurs in obtaining information from the absent parent, and if he will make a statement.

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. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 May 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about contact with parents with care when there is a delay in obtaining information from the absent parent. If an absent parent fails to return the Maintenance Enquiry Form (MEF) the Agnecy will issue a letter warning that an Interim Maintenance Assessment (IMA), which is generally higher than a full maintenance assessment, will be considered if information requested is not received within 14 days of receipt. At the same time the parent with care is notified that this warning letter has been issued. If an absent parent does return the MEF but fails to provide all of the information required, then the Agency will still consider imposing an IMA. In such cases a warning letter will be sent to the absent parent and the parent with care will be notified at the same time. If no response is received at this stage and an IMA is to be imposed, both the absent parent and the parent with care will receive a letter setting out the amount of the IMA and the date from which it will be imposed. I hope this reply is helpful.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he will take to reduce the number of weeks which the Child Support Agency requires to process maintenance assessments; and if he will make a statement.

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. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 May 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the time taken by the Agency to process maintenance assessments. The Agency originally expected to take 6 to 12 weeks to clear a straightforward case once fully operational. The aim of clearing such cases within that time scale was first expressed before the Agency had experience of live operation. In practice, the assessment process has turned out to be more complex and clearance times longer than was originally expected. The maintenance formula which is used in making the assessment is detailed as it has to take account of the individual circumstances of both parents. A great deal of information is required to ensure the assessment is realistic, and accurately reflects their circumstances. It is inevitable therefore that the entire process will take time. At this stage it is still too early to predict what clearance times will be achieved in the longer term, although the Agency is working hard to ensure that all applications for maintenance are cleared as quickly as possible. I can reassure you that the Agency is constantly reviewing all aspects of its operations to ensure that the most effective means of handling cases are identified and changes made where the process can be improved. I hope you find this helpful.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what time limit has been established for an interim award of maintenance to the parent with care from the Child Support Agency.

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. David Hinchliffe, dated 25 May 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the time limit for an interim award of maintenance to a parent with care. When Maintenance Enquiry Forms (MEFs) are issued, absent parents are advised that they must be completed and returned within 14 days of issue. If, after 14 days the absent parent fails to return the MEF, a letter is issued to advise him or her than an Interim Maintenance Assessment (IMA) will be considered if the information required is not received within 14 days. If a MEF has still not been return 28 days after it has been issued, the child support officer will consider whether an IMA is appropriate. Once the child support officer decides an IMA is appropriate, it will be imposed within 9 days. If an IMA is considered not to be appropriate at this stage, the case may be referred for an interview locally with the absent parent to resolve the matter. All cases will be followed up subsequently and a decision made in the light of all the circumstances. In all cases, our aim is to make a decision as soon as the information is available. I hope this reply is helpful.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence is available to identify any transfer of care from one parent to the other resulting from assessment by the Child Support Agency; and what studies have been undertaken on this.

Mr. Burt

Matters relating to the care and residence of a child are principally matters for the court. The Department has not undertaken any studies on this issue.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to link the pay of the chief executive of the Child Support Agency to the time taken to send replies to letters and to the extent to which those replies answer the questions asked; and if he will give reasons for his decision.

Mr. Burt

The Child Support Agency chief executive's entitlement to a performance bonus is largely determined by the achievement of the published key performance targets for the agency taken as a package. Details of the key targets for 1994–95 have not yet been decided. They will be published in the agency's business plan, a copy of which will be available in the Library.