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Children: Maintenance

Answer

[holding answer 30 June 2008]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.Letter from Stephen Geraghty:"In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.""You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals' postal addresses have been disclosed by the Child Support Agency to their former partners; and if he will make a statement. [213819]""It is not the practice of the Child Support Agency to provide details of an individual's postal address to former partners. However, on occasion errors do occur and the Agency investigates each incident thoroughly and considers financial redress where appropriate. The Agency does not centrally collate records of these investigations.""The Agency's records do show however that since January 2007, of the 1.3 million open child maintenance cases, the Information Commissioner's Office have informed the Agency of just three complaints from our clients alleging unlawful disclosure. These complaints were investigated by the Child Support Agency and, where appropriate, consolatory payments were made by way of an apology for the inconvenience, worry and distress caused.""It is worth noting that there are also occasions where, with the consent of both parents, it may be in the interests of the child for the Agency to pass on contact details to either parent. The Agency is currently looking at how it can facilitate this transfer of information within the framework of the Data Protection Act.""The Agency takes the protection of personal information very seriously. If you have any concerns relating to a particular case, I would be happy to investigate and respond accordingly.""I hope you find this answer helpful."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

213819; 479 c2362-3W

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Children Maintenance

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk