§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many maintenance accounts held by the Child Support Agency were in arrears between April 1995 to the end of March 1996; and what was the amount outstanding. [37421]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellThe administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter front Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 19 July 1996:
69WI am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency accounts.The total maintenance debt outstanding as at 31 March 1995 was £525.187m. The number of cases with maintenance outstanding recorded against them is not available as the Agency's Financial Management System could not provide this information at that time, although it has since been developed to do so.
As at 31 March 1996 the number of cases with at least some amount of maintenance outstanding recorded (even if this was the subject of an agreed repayment arrangement) was 267,720. The total maintenance debt outstanding at this date was £895.569m, an analysis of which is included in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts published on 16 July 1996.
I hope this is helpful.