HC Deb 21 November 2001 vol 375 cc350-1W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many payments by absent parents have been written off as irrecoverable in the last 12 months; what the average and upper decile value of such payments are; and how many payments are in the upper decile. [14360]

Malcolm Wicks

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 20 November 2001: I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the Child Support Agency. Mr. Smith is unavailable and therefore I am writing to you on his behalf. You asked how many payments by Non resident parents have been written off as irrecoverable by the Child Support Agency in the last 12 months. The Child Support Agency does not write off child support maintenance debt. Section 30 of the Child Support Act 1991 allows the Secretary of State to decide when and how to collect and enforce maintenance but it does not allow him to dissolve that debt. I hope this is helpful.