Written question asked by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 17 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 March 2005. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects statistics on the new child support scheme to become available; whether the statistics on the new child support scheme produced within the Child Support Agency progress report of 28th October 2004 were quality assured; and if he will make a statement on the status of previous statistics produced on the new child support system.

Answer: Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects statistics on the new child support scheme to become available; whether the statistics on the new child support scheme produced within the Child Support Agency progress report of 28 October 2004 were quality assured; and if he will make a statement on the status of previous statistics produced on the new child support system. [223485] Malcolm Wicks: Statistics on the `new scheme' are already available and are regularly reported and published in my right hon. Friend's progress report; last presented on 28 October 2004. The published information provided the most current available data. The Child Support Agency has since, as a result of in-depth investigations, identified some anomalies in this information. The next progress report is due to be published on 24 March 2005 and identifies revisions in the information as a consequence of the agency's findings. A copy of the progress report will also accompany the Government response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

Secondary information