§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what activities are carried out by the Inland Revenue with regard to the Child Support Agency; what the costs of these activities are; and if he will make a statement. [37519]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Child Support Act 1991 permits the Inland Revenue to disclose information to assist the Child Support Agency in tracing non-resident parents. Amendments under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 enabled earnings information to be passed to the Child Support Agency.
Amendments under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 enabled the Inland Revenue to provide the Child Support Agency with information about the earnings or other income of the self employed.
Under the terms of this legislation the Inland Revenue provides the Child Support Agency with the relevant information on request. The approximate estimated amount involved is £165,000 per annum, for which the Inland Revenue is reimbursed by the Child Support Agency.