§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much child support maintenance has been assessed to date but not paid; and what proportion of this is currently assessed to be collectable. [5437]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe expect the Child Support Agency to provide an efficient and effective service to all its clients throughout the child support assessment process. We are looking for substantial and sustained operational improvements from the Agency, in particular on getting more maintenance paid, reducing the backlog and improving customer service.
The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
619WLetter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. Chris Pond, dated 10 July 1997:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about unpaid child support maintenance.The amount of child support maintenance where a full maintenance assessment is in place, that had not been paid at the 23 June 1997, was £557,493,252.The proportion of child support maintenance that is currently regarded as collectable is 48%, taken from the last published Debt Analysis Exercise which was carried out in September 1996. Using this proportion the amount deemed to be collectable is £267,596,761. A further Debt Analysis Exercise has been undertaken this year, and the findings, (once signed off by the National Audit Office), will be published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts.The Agency uses every power available to it to chase up absent parents who try to avoid paying legally due maintenance and our efforts will continue in this area. In 1996–97 the Agency collected or arranged payment for almost £400 million maintenance; this will increase this year to £500 million.I hope this is helpful.