§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision there is to prevent absentee fathers from changing their circumstances in order to inhibit the ability of the CSA to claim maintenance payments from them. [27642]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellMaintenance assessments are intended to reflect the ability of parents to contribute to their children's support. Assessments may be revised following a change in the circumstances of either parent and will be effective only from the date the change was reported. The Child Support Agency will take action to collect any outstanding arrears as well as current172W maintenance. This may include the imposition of deduction from earnings orders and applications for liability orders.
Provisions already exist that enable a child support officer to include notional income as part of a parent's resources where he is satisfied that a parent has intentionally deprived himself or failed to secure income or capital with the intention of avoiding or reducing his child support liability.
In addition, the new departure system that is currently being piloted with a view to its introduction later this year will include further measures to prevent absent parents from manipulating the system to reduce their maintenance liability. Parents will be able to apply for a departure from the standard formula assessment where it is unrealistically low because an absent parent is diverting income to another person or for another purpose; has assets which are not producing or sufficient income; or otherwise has a life style which is inconsistent with the level of income on which the maintenance assessment is based.
Finally, there are sanctions in the benefit system against people who give up work voluntarily.