HC Deb 29 November 1995 vol 267 cc742-5W
Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the figures on revenue collected by the Child Support Agency in his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 252, with reference to the latest data available and also show for each month since April 1994 (a) the amount of revenue demanded attributable to type A interim assessments and (b) the amount which offsets state funds. [2266]

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 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about revenue collected by the Child Support Agency. You asked for updated information on maintenance assessed, scheduled for payment and collected via the Agency collection service. The available information on maintenance scheduled for payment and collected by the Agency is set out in the attached table, together with how much of the maintenance collected each month has offset benefit spending. During 1994–95, 65% of maintenance collected offset benefit spending, compared with 54% to date this year. Additionally, between April and September 1995 £61.46 million arising from Agency assessments was paid direct between parents who do not use the Agency's collection service. Information on the amount of revenue attributable to Type 'A' interim assessments is not available. I hope this is helpful.

Maintenance arising from CSA arrangements
£ million
Assessed and scheduled for payment via Agency collection Service Paid via Agency collection service Amount collected which offsets benefit spending
Total 1993–94 107.54 12.57 5.70
1994
April 27.82 3.70 1.78
May 30.43 4.04 1.82
June 32.33 4.66 2.36
July 43.31 4.80 3.08
August 42.64 5.75 3.43
September 47.41 6.10 3.75
October 44.81 6.47 3.53
November 45.95 7.03 4.30
December 53.98 7.09 3.87
January 43.56 7.85 4.52
February 43.48 7.66 5.85
March 49.05 9.09 9.65
Total 1994–95 504.77 74.24 47.94
Maintenance arising from CSA arrangements
£ million
Assessed and scheduled for payment via Agency collection service Paid via Agency collection service Amount collected which offsets benefit spending
1995
April 45.44 7.92 4.11
May 45.06 8.99 5.58
June 47.43 9.31 5.36
July 41.87 9.12 4.73
August 42.24 9.70 5.16
September 46.33 10.36 5.21
Year to date 1995–96 268.38 55.40 30.16

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedure exists for the payment of arrears to the Child Support Agency by instalments. [2387]

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 Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about payments of arrears by instalments to the Child Support Agency. If an absent parent (AP) falls into arrears without contacting the Agency then every effort is made to get in touch with him to determine why payments have fallen behind. He will be asked to make up the missing payments, but if there is a problem, the Agency arranges an arrears agreement with the AP. The arrears agreement negotiated is based on the amount of debt and the AP's ability to pay. It is made clear to the AP that he will not be expected to pay more than 33% of his net income in regular payment and arrears. The welfare of any children involved is considered when deciding how much to enforce and officers are trained to negotiate the most reasonable level of payment in the interests of all parties. Where arrears are in respect of the initial payment period, the possibility of deferring debt other than that appropriate to the most recent 26 weeks can be considered in certain circumstances, where the delay in making the assessment has been substantially due to the Agency. In these circumstances, the arrears agreement is based on that 26 weeks arrears total. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will say what the procedure is for collecting arrears of Child Support from a husband who pays directly to his wife. [2386]

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 Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about collection of arrears by the Child Support Agency. Where child maintenance is paid directly to the parent with care PWC) by the absent parent (AP), the Agency only becomes aware arrears when the PWC get in touch to advise us of the AP's failure to pay. If the PWC wishes the Agency to pursue the arrears she may do so by requesting the collection and enforcement service at any time. The current moratorium of fees means that no further fee will be levied for this service. If we are asked to undertake collection and enforcement action, the Agency confirms the amount of unpaid maintenance with the AP and arranges an arrears agreement with him. Collection is then made via the Agency so that we can monitor the arrears agreement and take any necessary action to ensure regular payments of maintenance, including enforcement action if this becomes essential. I hope this is helpful.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of deduction of earning orders issued by the Child Support Agency since April 1994(a) against type A interim assessments and (b) against full maintenance assessments. [2267]

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 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of. State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments. From April 1994 to September 1995, 54,093 deduction of earnings orders have been issued by the Agency. Of these 14,478 were issued on interim maintenance assessments and 39,615 on full maintenance assessments. I hope this is helpful.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown of the weekly maintenance being paid in cases where absent parents are paying child support maintenance by way of a deduction of earnings order. [1238]

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 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency deduction of earnings orders. The latest information I am able to supply is that the Child Support Agency is currently collecting in excess of £996,000 maintenance per week from absent parents, by means of deductions of earnings orders. I hope this is helpful.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Child Support Agency cases have arrangements to pay via the agency's collection service; and how many are(a) fully paid and (b) partially paid indicating the numbers of (i) type A interim maintenance assessments and (ii) full assessments. [1237]

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 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about cases using the Child Support Agency collection service. The breakdown you requested is shown in the table.

Number of cases involving type A interim maintenance assessments Number of cases involving full maintenance assessments
Fully paid1 6,545 39,661
Partially paid2 15,979 73,789
Not paid 60,947 17,370
Total 83,471 130,820
1 Full compliance—no payments outstanding.
2 Partial compliance—at least one payment received in the last 13 weeks.

I hope this is helpful.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria have to be fulfilled for an absent parent to be classified as making regular maintenance payments. [1236]

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 28 November 1995: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments. You asked what criteria have to be fulfilled for an absent parent to be classified as making regular maintenance payments. An absent parent is considered to be complying in full if all outstanding payments have been received; and partially if at least one payment has been received in the last 13 weeks. I hope this is helpful.