§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents with care on(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) disability working allowance are currently subject to a reduced benefit direction at (i) the rate of reduction which applied before November 1996 and (ii) the 40 per cent. rate of reduction applying after November 1996. [14160]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyAll children have the right to the support of both their parents wherever they may live.
Before 7 October 1996, parents with care in receipt of a relevant benefit who failed to co-operate with the Child Support Agency without good cause were subject to a benefit reduction of 20 per cent. of the adult income support personal allowance for six months followed by a further reduction of 10 per cent. for 12 months. From 7 October 1996, the reduction was increased to 40 per cent. of the adult income support personal allowance for three years to be immediately renewed if the parent with care continued to fail to co-operate.
85WThe latest available information is from February 1997, which shows that 3,000 parents with care on income support were subject to a 20 per cent. reduction; 7,000 were subject to a 10 per cent. benefit reduction; and 4,000 were subject to a 40 per cent. reduction.
Figures for parents with care in receipt of family credit or disability working allowance who are subject to a benefit reduction are not available.