§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Child Support Agency716W cases in Northern Ireland have used the new formula for calculating child maintenance payments in each month since its introduction; and what steps he is taking to increase these figures. [151337]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Government has sought to reform the child support system to provide prompt, accurate maintenance calculations and quick, reliable maintenance payments. The revised child support scheme, initially delayed from April 2002 to allow further testing of the new IT system, was introduced for new cases on 3 March 2003.
No decision has yet been made as to when cases assessed under the "old" formula, will transfer to the new.
The number of child support cases in Northern Ireland, having used the new formula for calculating child maintenance, each month, since its introduction in March 2003, is as follows:
Assessment calculated under new formula March to July1 344 August 2003 226 September 2003 370 October 2003 427 November 2003 380 December 2003 228 January2 132 Total 2,107 1only the year date information is available up to July 2003. 2As at 27 January 2004. Between 3 March 2003 and 17 January 2004, the Agency has dealt with 66 per cent. of the new applications received and case clearances are currently on par with intake. The current number of outstanding applications is 2,899.
To further reduce the number of outstanding new scheme applications, 10 additional staff are currently undergoing training. They will be fully effective by 31 March 2004.