HC Deb 07 April 2000 vol 347 cc629-30W
Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many divorced or separated women(a) have and (b) have not received from their ex-husbands or husbands their full CSA-assessed entitlement in the most recent year for which figures are available. [117528]

Angela Eagle

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 6 April 2000: I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency. The latest published Child Support statistics show that in the quarter to November 1999 there are a total of 346,500 cases where maintenance is arranged and collected through the Agency. Of these 162,900 parents with care receive their full maintenance, 79,800 receive partial maintenance and 103,800 receive no maintenance. 155,100 have a full maintenance assessment made by the Agency with the liability paid through a private agreement between the Parent With Care and the Non-Resident Parent. In these cases full compliance is assumed. Therefore, 318,000 of parents with care receive their full maintenance award through either the Agency's collection service or a private agreement. A further 79,800 receive partial maintenance. A total of 445,000 live cases are assessed at nil liability. A percentage of Non-Resident Parents assessed at nil liability who claim Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance (income-based) may be required to make a contribution to maintenance. The Department's Analytical Services Division produces a CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics that is available in the House of Commons Library and you may find the information it contains of further interest. I hope this is helpful.