§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps she will take to co-ordinate activities between the Child Support Agency and the Benefits Agency to combat benefit fraud; and if she will assess the advantages of measures to deal with deliberate evasion of child maintenance by absent parents. [12489]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyChildren are entitled to the support of both parents wherever they live. It is not acceptable that parents should seek to avoid their responsibilities and one of our key aims for the Child Support Agency is to ensure that more absent parents pay the maintenance they owe.
Benefit Rate when introduced £ Date of introduction Current rate £ Value if increased in line with prices since date introduced £ Value if increased in line with earnings since date introduced £ Income support 5 April 1988 5 7.35 8.50 10 October 1996 10 10.25 10.40 15 April 1988 15 22.05 25.60 Jobseeker's allowance 5 October 1996 5 5.15 5.20 10 October 1996 10 10.25 10.40 15 October 1996 15 15.40 15.65 Housing Benefit 5 April 1988 5 7.35 8.50 10 April 1988 10 14.75 17.10 15 April 1988 15 22.05 25.60 15 April 1988 25 22.05 25.60 Housing benefit child care disregard 40 October 1994 60 43.05 44.75 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 p at each uprating date.
2. The retail prices index (all items) less rent, local taxes and mortgage interest payments has been used in this table.
3. Jobseeker's allowance replaced income support for the unemployed in October 1996.
4. The £15 disregard for housing benefit was increased for lone parents to £25 in October 1990.
5. The £40 child care disregard on housing benefit was increased to £60 in April, 1996.