§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been received by the Child Support Agency since its inception; how many complaints have resulted in financial redress; on what basis financial redress has been made; and if he will give details of the individual and total payments that have been made.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Dr. Tony Wright, dated 31 January 1995:
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security on complaints about the Child Support Agency.From 5 April 1993 to 30 November 1994 the Agency recorded 29,621 complaints. No distinction is made between complaints against the operations of the Agency and those concerning child support legislation.A special payment will be considered where a clear and unambiguous error by the Agency has resulted in an actual financial loss to the client. To the end of November, 16 such payments had been paid, totalling £1,148.46. This figure includes single payments of £310.00, £300.00, £172.39, £105.91, £100.00, £65.80, £25.00; two payments of £15.00, and six payments for various amounts less than £10.00.I hope this reply is helpful.