HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc954-5W
20. Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security many cases were raised by hon. Members with the Child Support Agency(a) in the 12 months from 1 May 1997 and (b) in each of the four previous 12 month periods. [53493]

Angela Eagle

In the twelve months to the end of April 1998, the Child Support Agency received 21,933 letters from hon. Members concerning operational issues. In the previous year the figure was 18,473. During the same two year period, the number of cases on the Agency's books rose by around 300,000.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received from(a) organisations, (b) individual men and (c) individual women on the proposals in the CSA Green Paper. [53501]

Angela Eagle

The Green Paper sets out our proposals for a modern Child Support service. The Government want a wide debate on these proposals and welcome all views.

Responses to the consultation exercise should reach this Department by 30 November. Up to the end of September, 741 representations had been received, including 34 from organisations, 649 from individuals, 36 from Departmental staff and 22 from hon. Members.

It is not possible to state how many representations have been made by individual men and women since the gender of respondents cannot always be identified. Of the respondents, 119 gave a parent with care's perspective, 498 a non-resident parent's perspective and 124 were broadly neutral in their point of view.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is CSA policy to overrule divorce settlements which provide for higher maintenance payments than those calculated according to the CSA formula. [55498]

Angela Eagle

Parents with care who are receiving Income Support can be required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in seeking maintenance unless they have good cause for not doing so. When a valid application is received the Agency is bound by law to assess child maintenance in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

In many cases, the liability that results is substantially higher than that agreed in divorce settlements, but there is no provision for retaining an existing divorce settlement where the child support assessment is for a lower amount.