§ Lord Northbourneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether on 31 March £976 million was due to be collected by the Child Support Agency from nonresident parents; and, if so, how much of this money is still owed to single parents. [HL4705]
176WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)I can confirm that as a result of the agency's year-end debt analysis exercise, audited by the National Audit Office, an estimated £976 million was considered to be collectable from non-resident parents at 31 March 2004. Because the amount considered collectable at 31 March is based on an estimate derived from an annual debt analysis exercise, I cannot state how much of this estimate has been collected or is outstanding at any future date. The agency collected and arranged payment direct to the parent with care total maintenance of £777.5 million during the year ended 31 March 2004. This includes £141.7 million due to the Secretary of State, 18 per cent of the total collected and arranged, and £635.8 million due to the parent with care.