Child Support Agency

HC Deb 12 January 2004 vol 416 cc556-7W

Mr. Goodman

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of parents who are waiting for their Child Support Agency cases to be transferred from the old to the new scheme will pay (a) increased and (b) decreased payments under the new scheme. [140881]

Mr. Pond

Of those non-resident parents who are earning an income, about 60 per cent. will have a reduced maintenance liability and about 40 per cent. will have an increased liability.

Of those non-resident parents on benefit, about 60 per cent. will have an increased liability for maintenance. (Currently, 75 per cent. of non-resident parents on benefit are treated as having no liability; under the new scheme we expect them to pay a flat rate of £5 to the parent with care).

This data is based on an analysis carried out in 2001, and reflects the position had all cases converted to the new scheme on the day of the scan. Since then, average income levels of non-resident parents have increased, which would reduce the fall in the level of maintenance liabilities.

There are around a million live and assessed old scheme cases. Of those in work, we expect that a majority will have a reduced liability.