HC Deb 07 November 1995 vol 265 cc829-31W
Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents had their Child Support Agency assessments(a) increased and (b) decreased as a result of the changes introduced in April; and if he will provide a breakdown. [41038]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

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

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 6 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments. It is estimated that no more than 150 absent parents have had their child maintenance assessments increased because of the April changes. We believe that nearly all these relate to cases where parents with care were awarded an allowance for travel to work costs. So far over 40,000 absent parents had their maintenance decreased because of the April changes. It is not possible to give a precise breakdown of this figure and cases are still being processed. It is estimated that almost 19,000 absent parents benefitted from the new 30% of net income limit on the amount of maintenance an absent parent is required to pay and 16,000 benefitted from the inclusion of all housing costs in exempt income. So far about 2,000 absent parent have benefitted from either the award of allowances of property and capital settlements or from the award of an allowance for travel to works costs. The balance of over 3,000 cases would have been reduced because they were affected by one or more of the other changes (e.g. reduction in the maximum amount paid under the formula; liability plus arrears to be a maximum 33% of absent parents earnings).

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will outline the specific changes that have recently been made to the accuracy measurements of the Child Support Agency to ensure that they align with the definition used by the National Audit Office. [41040]

Mr. Mitchell

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

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 6 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about accuracy measurements of the Child Support Agency. The Child Support Agency developed a definition to measure the accuracy of maintenance assessments, in liaison with the National Audit Office during 1994/95. The Agency asked the National Audit Office to examine how this definition worked in practice as part of the audit undertaken early in 1995. The National Audit Office concluded that we should alter our method of measuring the cash value of assessments in the following ways. We should exclude from the calculation any cases which were closed prior to assessment. We should attempt to establish whether assessments made before all the evidence was gathered, were correct at the time of the assessment. If so these should be treated as correct, as the value of the assessment was not in error. Although procedures may not have been followed precisely, this will not have had an adverse impact on our clients. Other cases in this category, for instance where the missing evidence would result in a changed assessment, should be treated as errors. Both these changes were implemented from April 1995. I hope this is helpful.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to establish an independent complaints adjudicator for the Child Support Agency. [41887]

Mr. Mitchell

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the chief executive to look at current complaints procedures and see how they might be improved. One of the options could be the establishment of a Child Support Agency complaints adjudicator. It is too soon to say whether such an arrangement could operate in the context of CSA business.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the cases assessed by the Child Support Agency would have had no opportunity to arrange a child maintenance agreement(a) because they are new separations or (b) for some other reasons. [41339]

Mr. Mitchell

All cases assessed by the Child Support Agency have had the opportunity to make a child maintenance agreement whether or not they are newly separated. However, if an agreement is made which is insufficient to remove the need for the parent with care to claim either income support, family credit or disability working allowance, the parent with care may be required to authorise the Secretary of State to take action to recover child support maintenance.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the absent parents who had previously paid no child maintenance at the time they were taken on by the Child Support Agency were on benefits. [41341]

Mr. Mitchell

The agency does not collect this information as there is no business need for it.

Mrs. Roe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will report on the review of the arrangements for compensating clients who have a genuine grievance against the Child Support Agency. [42192]

Mr. Mitchell

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Morley and Leeds, South (Mr. Gunnell) on 17 July 1995,Official Report, column 1300.

Since its inception, the agency has had the facility to consider special payments to compensate clients where a clear, unambiguous error or delay has been caused by the agency.

Although each case is considered on its individual merits, the agency has now established clear criteria for deciding whether, and if so, how much, to pay in compensation.

The details of this scheme, which is comparable to those operated by other DSS agencies, have now been developed from experience of cases arising in this new and unique business. This will ensure that each case receives fair and consistent consideration.