HL Deb 01 February 1996 vol 568 cc111-2WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to Miss Ann Chant's evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (Q160) that cases in which there is no co-operation with the Child Support Agency "are the ones where probably both parents are on benefit, and therefore there is going to be very little to gain or lose for either party", whether they believe the collection of maintenance from absent parents on income support to be cost effective; and

What is the average cost per case of collecting maintenance from absent parents on income support.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

It is a fundamental principle of the Child Support Act that every parent is responsible for maintaining his or her children wherever they can afford to do so, thus keeping the burden on the general taxpayer to a minimum. The minimum contribution to maintenance, which will increase to £4.80 in April 1996, underpins this responsibility.

The principle is that both parents are responsible for their children, and absent parents should not escape all their financial responsibilities simply because they are on income support. A deduction from benefit will demonstrate an absent parent's liability, and will establish a pattern of contributing to the maintenance of children that will continue when the absent parent commences employment.

The average cost per case of collecting maintenance from absent parents on income support could be established only at disproportionate cost.