§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the date on which the Child Support Agency received an application from the parent with care in case 1017680981 for a compensatory award and the date on which he expects that case to be referred to the special payments branch; and if he will make a statement. [2972]
§ 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 from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. David Lidington, dated 12 November 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency case reference 1017680981.An application for compensation was received on 5 January 1996. In this case, the Agency could not consider the application until a full maintenance assessment had been calculated. A full assessment was calculated on 29 May 1996, and since then every effort has been made by the Agency to secure regular maintenance for the parent with care, culminating in the imposition of a deduction from earnings order on 1 October 1996.The claim for compensation was passed to the Agency's Special Payments Branch on I November 1996. Based on the information then available, it was decided that a compensation payment was not appropriate. However, further information has since come to light and it has now been accepted that compensation can be paid. A revised decision has been issued and a compensation payment of £1,651.73 paid.I hope this is helpful.