HC Deb 24 November 1994 vol 250 cc280-1W
Mr. Mills

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will change the Child Support Agency form so as to show the detailed breakdown of all relevant finances and arrangements of those assessed.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Iain Mills, dated 24 November 1994: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about changes to the Child Support Agency form so as to show the detailed breakdown of all relevant financial information. The information which the Child Support Officer must provide to the parties to a maintenance assessment is specified under Child Support legislation. The Agency must provide sufficient information to allow clients to decide whether the assessment formula has been applied correctly, whilst respecting the confidential nature of the information which has been supplied by those clients, and ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act. The Agency has no current plans to increase the amount of detailed information provided in the assessment notification. I hope that this reply is helpful.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefits of either a financial or emotional nature he believes accrue to children who have been the subject of a CSA assessment.

Mr. Burt

Payment of child maintenance is of direct financial benefit to many parents with care and their children; those who are not in receipt of income support will see an immediate rise in their income as a result of regular maintenance. Even when income support is in payment, the knowledge that maintenance is a portable income is a positive incentive and help for parents with care to seek employment, thereby improving the children's standard of living. In addition, the establishment of regular maintenance helps to reinforce the responsibilities which parents have for their children, even where they live apart.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the findings of research carried out by Barnardos's, the Children's Society, NCH Action for Children, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Save the Children on the impact of the Child Support Agency's activities on children; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Burt

We have carefully noted the content of the recent report from these five charities and will take it into account, along with reports from other organisations, in formulating our proposals for changes to the child support arrangements.