Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Harry Cohen (Labour). It was answered by James Plaskitt (Labour) on Monday, 9 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Child Support Agency

Question: If he will make a statement on the Child Support Agency's policy towards those deemed to be the parent without care who claim they are not actually the parent.

Answer: Where the parentage of a child is disputed, the agency can, in appropriate cases, arrange DNA tests. In five out of six cases, these prove that the alleged non-resident parent is the father of the child. There are categories of case, for example where the father is named on the birth certificate, where the agency can presume parentage without a test, but that can be disputed in the courts. If the court finds, or the DNA test shows, that a man is not the father of the child, the agency refunds the cost of the DNA test, refunds any maintenance paid and ceases action.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 441 c5; 40158
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Lead
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Children Absent parents Genetics Maintenance Parents Paternity Testing
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk