§ Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What countervailing increase in child poverty they have attributed to the effect of parents being disentitled to benefit as a result of refusing to comply with (a) the requirement to name the father under the Child Support Act 1995; (b) the requirement to attend one interview; and (c) other government requirements, and whether they will list those requirements. [HL4054]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamThe effect on child poverty of the requirement to name the father under the Child Support Act 1995 and the requirement to attend one interview is not available. However, the following information is available.
Under the Child Support Act 1991, a reduced benefit direction can be imposed on parents with care who refuse without good cause to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in seeking child maintenance. There are currently around 13,000 reduced benefit directions in force.
94WAFrom April 2000 work-focused interviews have been mandatory for all benefit claimants of working age who reside in ONE pilot areas. Up to the end of September 2000, 83,480 working age clients made a claim to a benefit other than Jobseeker's Allowance. Of this number, 0.08 per cent failed to take part in the interview.