§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the general and compensation levies payable under the Pension Schemes Act 1993 by occupational and personal pension schemes. [39537]
§ Mr. McCartneyThere will be no increase in the General Levy rates for 2002–03. Rates will remain at the 2000–01 level as set out in the table. Levy receipts are buoyant due to the growth in the number of members for which the levy is payable. Although Opra's costs have increased and it will have added responsibilities for regulating speeding up the winding up of pension schemes in 2002–03, there will be sufficient funding without increasing the General Levy rates.
Although some payments have been made out of the pension compensation fund, it will not be necessary to raise a Compensation Levy in 2002–03.
new child support scheme. While it is expected that there will be a rise in the levels of compliance, this cannot be quantified with sufficient precision.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the role and responsibilities of Alexis Cleveland in respect of the Child Support Agency. [37433]
§ Malcolm WicksAlexis Cleveland, as Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, has no responsibility for the Child Support Agency—Doug Smith is the Child Support Agency's Chief Executive.
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§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to take into account the contribution to a stakeholder pension of the partner of a non-resident parent in calculating the assessment under the new CSA formula. [35372]
§ Malcolm WicksThe income of a non-resident parent's partner will not be taken into account in the new CSA calculation. The partner's contribution to a stakeholder pension will therefore also be irrelevant.
§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice is given to clients who apply to the CSA before April; and if he will make a statement. [35374]
§ Malcolm WicksThe CSA has written to existing clients with a live maintenance assessment in place informing them of the introduction of the new child support scheme for new cases, and of the implications for their case. The same information will be provided to new applicants when they receive notification of their maintenance assessment.
§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what transitional arrangements will be put in place for clients who face large adjustments in payments when transferring to the new CSA system; and if he will make a statement. [35376]
§ Malcolm WicksTo give parents who have existing child support assessments time to adjust to the new amounts, child support liability will be phased over a period of five years and in stages of £2.50, £5 or £10, depending on the non-resident parent's net weekly income.
Agency/body Staff days lost 1998—Department of Social Security Headquarters Nil Benefits Agency 8.5 Child Support Agency Nil Information Technology Service Agency Nil War Pensions Agency1 Nil Contributions Agency2 Nil Independent Tribunal Service Nil Independent Statutory Bodies Nil 1999—Department of Social Security Headquarters Nil Benefits Agency Nil Child Support Agency Nil Information Technology Service Agency Nil Contributions Agency Nil War Pensions Agency Nil Independent Tribunal Service Nil Independent Statutory Bodies Nil 2000—Department of Social Security Headquarters Nil Benefits Agency Nil Child Support Agency Nil War Pensions Agency Nil The Appeal Service Nil Independent Statutory Bodies Nil 2001—Department for Work and Pensions Corporate Centre Nil Benefits Agency/Employment Service3 154,9284 The Appeal Service Nil Independent Statutory Bodies Nil 1 The War Pensions Agency transferred to the Ministry of Defence June 2001. 2 The Contributions Agency transferred to the Inland Revenue April 1999. 3 Before 2001 the Employment Service was part of the then Department for Education and Employment. Figures for these years will form part of the response from the Department for Education and Skills. 4 All but 37 days relate to a single dispute.