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SOCIAL SECURITY
Child Support Agency
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average monetary value of maintenance assessments undertaken by the Child Support Agency to date, excluding those produced by the implementation of interim maintenance assessments. [1574]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. William Cash, dated 24 November 1995:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
Mr. Cash:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of child support maintenance applications which the Child Support Agency has dealt with to date (a) where full maintenance assessments have resulted in monetary values less than or equal to the prescribed minimum under the Act, currently £2.35, (b) where full maintenance assessments have resulted in monetary values greater than the prescribed minimum under the Act, currently £2.35, (c) where interim assessments are currently in force, (d) which are currently classed as deferred under the measures announced in December 1994 and (e) which are still pending but which are within the CSA's current work load. [1573]
In cases where the absent parent has earned income the average full maintenance assessment, as at May 1995, was £39.69. When absent parents on benefit are included the average figure was £23.53.
Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. William Cash, dated 24 November 1995:
Data supplied as at 15 September 1995. In addition, you requested information on the number of cases currently classed as deferred under the measures announced in December 1994. The number of cases deferred was in the region of 350,000. The actual number of these still pending is less because some clients have asked the Agency to take on their case, and others are no longer receiving benefit. On this basis we estimate that there are around 300,000 cases remaining to be taken on. At the end of September 1995, the Child Support Agency had 384,500 applications for child maintenance on hand, pending action.
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 508
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency assessments.
The information requested is shown in the table below:
Number of Full Maintenance Assessments with a value between zero and £2.35 Number of Full Maintenance Assessments with a value greater than £2.35 Number of Interim Maintenance Assessments in force
144,510 166,945 92,998
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what date he became aware of the disputes between (a) EDS and Computer Associates and (b) other parties; and if the supply of the Child Support Agency's computer system was affected by these legal disputes. [2016]
Mr. Mitchell: At the time the contract for the Child Support Agency system was awarded to EDS, there was no knowledge of any dispute between EDS and any other party.
During subsequent development of the system by EDS it became known that it was in dispute with Computer Associates but this had no effect on supply of the system.
The only other dispute known is the dispute between EDS and the state of Florida. Information on this was obtained from the computer press some time after the supply of the system.
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases where an absent parent has been approached by the child support agency he has become aware that the absent parent has become unemployed. [2013]
Mr. Mitchell:
The information requested is not available. Practical experience has shown that very few absent parents deliberately leave their jobs to avoid paying maintenance for their children. This is because the maintenance assessment formula ensures that all absent parents, and their second families, are at least £30 a week better off after payment of maintenance than they would be if unemployed and receiving income support. No one can now be assessed to pay more than 30 per cent. of their net income in current maintenance. In addition, someone who has left work voluntarily is not entitled to unemployment benefit, and income support is payable at a reduced rate.
Mr. Battle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1439]
Mr. Roger Evans:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Construction and Planning to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 17 May, Official Report, columns 260-62, for details of this Department's energy performance from 1990-91 to 1993-94. My hon. Friend will be publishing details of Departments' performances in 1994-95 shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Battle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those claiming housing benefit are in (a) part-time or (b) temporary employment. [1461]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The information is not available in the format requested as it is not possible to identify separately the number of housing benefit recipients who are in temporary employment. The available information is set out in the table.
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 509
| Also in receipt of income support | Not in receipt of income support | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of housing benefit recipients with earnings | 96,000 | 320,000 | 416,000 |
Source Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample, May 1994. Notes a) Figures refer to benefit units which may be a single person or a couple. b) The figure for housing benefit recipients who are also in receipt of income support represents part-time earners only. The figure for housing benefit recipients not in receipt of income support represents full-time and part-time earners.
Public Interest Immunity Certificates
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all those in his Department who have authority to issue public immunity interest certificates; how many such certificates have been issued in each of the last five years; and what were the main reasons for them. [1392]
Mr. Burt: Public interest immunity certificates relating to departmental documents or information are normally authorised by the appropriate Minister. No such certificates have been issued in respect of the Department of Social Security in the past five years.
Research and Development
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the indicative contributions to the EU budget in respect of research and development for his Department in 1993-94. [1916]
Mr. Burt: Table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the "Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology" contains indicative figures for the United Kingdom's contributions to the EC budget in respect of research and development. Departments' policy responsibilities are subject to change and can vary from year to year. This Department currently has responsibility for 0.12 per cent. of the Community's R and D budget.
Benefit Savings
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the benefit savings cited in his answer of 19 April, Official Report, column 181, were due to (a) maintenance paid and (b) benefit not paid. [2071]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: All benefit savings are due to benefit not paid.
Legislative Repeals
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what legislation from his Department passed in the last five years contains provision for statutory repeal or review. [2035]
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 510
Mr. Heald: The legislation passed within this Department in the last five years which contains provisions for statutory repeal or review is as follows:
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 section 7(5)
Pensions Schemes Act 1993 section 41 (1)--(2)
Pensions Act 1995 sections 137(5) and 138(5)
The Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme (Extension) Order 1992.
Small and Medium Enterprises
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of Social Security what percentage of his Department's expenditure in 1994-95 was spent on procuring goods or services from small and medium enterprises. [1955]
Mr. Burt: We do not collect information on the size of companies who supply the DSS with goods and services.
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