Q1. The Specialist has access to the regular
updates provided to Parliament on the new scheme, and there are
some more figures in the Annual Report. However she tells me that
the updates seem to have got a bit behind. Is it a policy to provide
less regular updates? What is the current position please?
A1. The Secretary of State continues to provide
quarterly updates to Parliament. The update for the quarter to
the end of June was published on 22 July, and for the quarter
to the end of September was published on 28 October. There are
no plans to change the arrangements.
Q2. In the past, the benefit status statistics
could not be properly relied on to provide completely up to date
management information to the CSA, because there would always
be a time lapse, as the list of who is claiming benefits was always
historical in nature. Is this still the case or is the IT better
for this now? What is the current position regarding benefit status
statistics?
A2. The statistics referred to are supplied by
the Departments Information Analysis Directorate (IAD) and not
by the Child Support Agency however I have been able to obtain
the following explanatory information which should clarify the
issue for the researcher.
Old scheme information is produced on a quarterly
in arrears basis using the old computer system. New scheme information
is produced on a monthly basis using the new computer system.
There are no plans (to my knowledge) to change the
method/timing of collection of this information, on either systems.
The new system provides more regular information and is as reliable
as it can be, based upon the information held on it at any point
in time. The new system delivers information more easily and at
more frequent intervals (monthly as opposed to quarterly). The
New Scheme data is based on 100% of the cases held on the new
computer system, rather than the 5% sample used by IAD to obtain
the Old Scheme/Old System data.
Q3. In the Child Support Quarterly Statistical
Summary, at table 12 there a figures given for compliance amongst
those receiving benefits. The benefits are given as IS, JSA, Tax
Credits and "others". She would like to know what the
"others" group contains. For example, is it Carers Allowance,
Bereavement Benefit and/or War widows? In that "others"
category, the latest figures show that compliance levels are higher
than for IS/JSA etc. The Specialist wants to understand some of
the underlying factors beneath the compliance rates for those
people who are not obliged to comply with the CSA, hence information
about this group would be helpful to that aim. One of the reasons
for the Committee's interest in this area is the comparison with
Australia, where members found that there were high compliance
levels with far greater numbers of private clients.
A3. The "Others" category is a miscellaneous
category, not necessarily linked to people in receipt of benefits
other than Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance. For example
it includes parents with care who are employed or who have a private
income; however, for information, some of the Benefits that could
be included are:
— Incapacity Benefit.
— Invalid Care Allowance.
— Maternity Allowance.
— Severe Disablement Allowance.
— Industrial Injuries Benefit.
— Widowed Mother's Allowance.
— Widowed Parent's Allowance.
— Widows Pension.
— Contribution Based Jobseeker's Allowance.
— Social Security benefit paid by a country
other than the UK.
— Training Allowance other than one prescribed
for the purposes of the Nil rate.
— War Disablement Pension or a similar
pension paid by the government of a country outside Great Britain.
— War Widow's Pension or a similar pension
paid by the government of a country outside Great Britain.
Q4. The Specialist also said that one of the
Members has asked her if CSA staff have a time limit set for their
telephone calls with clients. Is this the case?
A4. No time limit is set for staff for telephone
calls with clients.
Targets are set and performance is monitored against
time logged into the telephone system and available to receive
incoming calls rather than the length of time on an individual
telephone call.
Q5. Another more substantive issue is that of
the information-seeking powers of the Agency. The Committee Specialist
has asked if Members could have a written note outlining what
powers the Agency already has to seek information on the contact
details of non-resident parents and their income; and the extent
to which these powers are used. As you know, the Committee is
interested in the working relationship between the Inland Revenue
and the CSA and it would be helpful to have more detail on what
information the Revenue is allowed to pass to the Agency and the
extent to which it does so. The Committee has recently had written
evidence from the Information Commissioner on this last issue
(I'm still awaiting a copy as I write) and the Committee Specialist
expects that the Committee will focus on this in the session with
the Minister and Chief Executive.
Answer 5.
1. General
The Child Support Agency has powers (Sections
14 (information gathering) and 15 (inspectors) of Child Support
Act 1991, The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure)
Regulations 1992, and S121E Social Security Administration Act
1992) to obtain information from the parents involved in a maintenance
application, their employers, other Agencies within the DWP, local
authorities, the Inland Revenue, the Courts, the Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency, Prison Services, accountants and companies or
partnerships for whom the non-resident parent has provided services
under a contract for services.
2. DWP
DWP must provide any information already held
for social security purposes.
3. Inland Revenue
Two Service Level Agreements have been established
with Inland Revenue. One with the National Insurance Contributions
Office and one with the Centre for Revenue Intelligence.
Some examples of the type of information provided
are:
— Confirmation of the name of a client,
including any alias.
— Confirmation of a date of birth.
— Confirmation of the address of the client
including any correspondence address or business address where
self employed.
— Confirmation of Trade where known.
— Employer details where known.
— Previous employer details where required.
— Start date of employment.
— Start date of self employment.
— End date of employment.
— End date of self employment.
— Employed earnings for full tax years
where the employer has failed to supply the details.
The CSA has an excellent relationship and daily contact
with both the National Insurance Contributions Office and with
the Centre for Revenue Intelligence.
Over the last 12 months the Agency has made over
25,000 enquiries of Inland Revenue.
4. Agency Inspectors
The Agency also appoints full-time inspectors
to assist in the gathering of information. Inspectors can visit
premises where a self-employed NRP carries, or has carried, out
his business, and have a power to enter premises and examine records
and question people found there. Failure to cooperate with an
inspector is a criminal offence and is subject to a fine of up
to £1,000.
It is a criminal offence if a person fails to provide
information when required to do so, or knowingly provides, or
allows to be provided, false information.
Those found guilty of such offences by a court may
be fined up to £1,000.
As at 1 June 2004:
Number of people prosecuted for providing false information:
taken to court—16; convicted 16.
Number of people prosecuted for failing to provide
information: taken to court—304; convicted 302.
In a further 73 cases, Court dates were set, but
proceedings were withdrawn because the non-resident parent complied
with the request for information when they were notified of the
Court date, or on the day of the hearing.
Note—Driving Licences cannot be withdrawn for
information offences.
5. Other sources of information— The
NRP's accountant, for tracing, assessment and enforcement purposes.
