Child Support Agency

HC Deb 19 July 2004 vol 424 c77W

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects Child Support Agency cases assessed under the old legislation to be transferred for assessment under the new legislation. [184734]

Mr. Pond

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 18 December 2003,Official Report, column 1092W.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason maintenance from non-resident parents which is uncollected by the Child Support Agency will be disregarded and written off. [183286]

Mr. Pond

The Child Support Agency has no powers to write-off debt.

Legislation provides for a non-resident parent to cease to be liable for a proportion of his arrears in certain tightly defined circumstances. In such cases the Secretary of State may make a payment to the parent with care.