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Public Appointments

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the individuals appointed by his Department to public positions in the last year were first identified by the public appointments unit. [8539]

Mr. Burt: None. The public appointments unit is routinely consulted when public appointments are made to this Department's public bodies. Many of the public bodies are of a specialist nature, and the appointees are drawn from a specialist field. When the PAU is consulted, any names given may duplicate those from other sources.

Child Support

Mr. Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures are planned to assist applicants under the proposed departure directions procedure in obtaining evidence to support allegations of inconsistent lifestyle. [8124]

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 Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 9 December 1996:


10 Dec 1996 : Column: 187

Mr. Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of child support cases involving self-employed absent parents concerned parents with care who were claiming income support, family credit or disability working allowance. [8123]

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.

10 Dec 1996 : Column: 188

Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Malcolm Wicks, dated 9 December 1996: