§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce legislation that will take account of absent parents who set themselves up as self-employed in order to avoid maintenance payments.
§ Mr. BurtNone. The formula for assessing liability for child support maintenance applies equally to employed and self-employed parents.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of women who are experiencing difficulties with the Child Support Agency regarding payment of maintenance moneys.
§ Mr. BurtThe information about complaints, difficulties and queries is not collated in the form requested. Some 9,542 complaints and queries relating to the Child Support Agency were recorded between 1 April and 31 August 1994. This figure represents less than 5 per cent. of the cases taken on to that date.