HC Deb 16 October 2001 vol 372 cc1207-8W
Mr. Todd

To ask the Secretary a State for Work and

Thousand
May 1997 May 1998 May 1999 May 2000 May 12001
Income Support 3,958 3,853 3,814 3,811 3,928
Jobseeker's Allowance—income-based 1,225 1,027 948 824 701
Housing Benefit 4,640 4,475 4,313 4,033 3,863
Council Tax Benefit 5,500 5,326 5,166 4,830 4,657
Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit 748 767 791 1,024 1,214
Disability Working Allowance/Disabled Persons Tax Credit 13 15 17 23 27
1 The 2001 count for Disabled Persons Tax Credit was taken in April not May 2001.

Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of those persons gaining and losing from the introduction of new child support mechanisms from 2002. [7270]

Malcolm Wicks

Based on an assessment made in 1998,1 had cases transferred to the reformed scheme at that time, around 65 per cent. of non-resident parents in work would have seen a reduction in their child support liability while 35 per cent. would have seen an increase. However, only around one half of non-resident parents paying through the CSA pay all that is currently due, so a simple comparison of potential liabilities is therefore misleading. Increased compliance will mean that more of the maintenance due will actually be paid. The child support reforms have been introduced to ensure that more children see the benefit of maintenance and over one million children will gain. 1 New scheme maintenance modelled on August 1998 5 per cent. scan of Child Support Computer System. Caseloads calibrated to forecast 'A' day levels.

Mr. Todd

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what target he has set for the accuracy of(a) maintenance assessment. (b) maintenance assessment debts and (c) full maintenance balances calculated by the Child Support Agency for 2001–02. [7263]

Malcolm Wicks

My right hon. Friend has set the following target for the accuracy of maintenance assessments calculated by the Child Support Agency for 2001–02Accuracy on the last action for all assessments checked in the year to be correct to the nearest penny in at least 78 per cent. of cases".

No targets are set for the accuracy of maintenance assessment debts and full maintenance balances.

Dr. Stoate

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of non-resident parents who make child maintenance contributions to the Child Support Agency chose to terminate their employment within 12 months of their initial assessment in the last 12 months. [7587]

Malcolm Wicks

For the 12 months ending 30 September 2001, 9 per cent. of employed non-resident parents making child maintenance contributions to the Child Support Agency moved out of employment within 12 months of their initial assessment. No breakdown of the reasons for non-resident parents' change of employment status is available.