Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much Child Support Agency scheme arrears were being dealt with by the child maintenance service at 31 March 2016; and how many cases those arrears relate to.

Priti Patel

As at 31 March 2016 the total amount of 1993 and 2003 Child Support Agency scheme arrears held on the 2012 system and currently being handled by the Child Maintenance Service stood at £153.3 million. Figures for 31 March 2016 are draft and subject to audit.

Information on related case groups and break downs by scheme are not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

We have at our disposal a range of strong enforcement powers, intended to ensure as many parents as possible fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children. We are using all of the powers available to us where it is appropriate to do so. These include deducting maintenance directly from earnings, deduction directly from bank accounts, instructing bailiffs to collect arrears or seize goods, forcing the sale of property, commitment to prison and disqualification from driving.