§ Mr. CannTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit penalties for non-co-operation with the Child Support Agency have now been imposed by Benefits Agency branch office.
§ Mr. BurtFrom April 1993 to the end of August 1994, 4,850 cases have been considered for the implementation of a reduced benefit direction. Details of the number of cases in which benefit was reduced is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers are possessed by Child Support Agency officials to elicit financial information from those being pursued for payment; whether the agency is empowered to obtain copies of bank statements and other confidential financial information without permission; arid if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtThe Child Support Information, Evidence and Disclosure Regulations place parties to an assessment, and other specified persons, under a duty to furnish information or evidence required by the Secretary of State for one or more of the purposes listed in the regulations. That duty does not extend to banks or other financial institutions and a child support officer cannot therefore request information from them.
The Secretary of State may, however, appoint inspectors for the purpose of acquiring information under the Child Support Act 1991. Those inspectors are not bound by the Information, Evidence and Disclosure Regulations and may ask banks or other financial institutions for information.