§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish's remarks on 5th June at H.L. Deb., col. 1215, what information they hold on the 18,000 lone parents who have suffered a benefit penalty under the Child Support Act 1991; how many have since named the father; how many are still on benefit; how many are in employment; and how many have been imprisoned for criminal offences.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)From the launch of the agency in April 1993 to the end of April this year, the agency has recorded over 18,000 reduced benefit directions (RBD) as being issued to the Benefits Agency for them to consider implementing a reduction in benefit. Information on the number of RBDs implemented by the Benefits Agency has been collected since the beginning of last April. This shows that 2,361 RBDs were implemented during that month.
The more specific information requested is not available. However, since launch to the end of April this year, the Child Support Agency considered whether there was good cause not to co-operate with the agency in almost 162,000 cases. The parent with care (PWC) named the absent parent in over 25,800 of those cases. Good cause not to co-operate with the agency was accepted in 73,400 cases and was rejected in 60,500 cases. (These figures do not quite sum to the total as they have been drawn from a variety of sources.)
Although figures are not collected, the majority of PWCs subject to a RBD will not be in employment, but a small number of Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance claimants may be affected.
No information is held on the number of PWCs still receiving benefit or the number imprisoned for criminal offences following the imposition of a RBD.
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