§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers are available to the Child Support Agency to investigate and take action against elected members or former elected members of local authorities who withhold details of attendance allowances and other allowances in their disclosure of financial details on which the level of child support is determined; and if he will make a statement. [106470]
§ Angela EagleIt is not right that some parents can seek to avoid their maintenance obligation by failing to provide information to the Child Support Agency (CSA) or by providing the wrong information.
Two new criminal offences are being introduced in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill which is currently before Parliament. The offences apply to 256W anyone who fails to provide information or gives false information to the CSA, there is a fine of up to £1,000 on conviction.
Local authority councillors are treated as being employed by Local authorities. Flat-rate allowances and attendance allowances paid to local authority councillors are therefore treated as earnings for child support purposes.
Where the CSA receives an allegation that a non-resident parent is not declaring his full earnings they will contact his employer direct for the information. If details of the earnings are still not forthcoming, an inspector may be sent out to obtain them. If it were established that a councillor had deliberately withheld information about attendance or other allowances, a prosecution under the proposed new powers would certainly be considered. The Agency already has powers to pursue and enforce any arrears of maintenance which may become due.