Written question asked by Helen Jackson (Labour) on Friday, 5 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 November 2004. It was answered by Chris Pond (Labour) on Monday, 15 November 2004 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions;Child Support Agency

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 28th October 2004, 425 c55-57WS, on the New Child Support Scheme: Progress Report, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in the number of applications for child maintenance received by the Child Support Agency in the second quarter of 2004. - Inc text of letter form Mike Isaac of CSA.

Answer: Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his written statement of 28 October 2004, Official Report, columns 55-57WS, on the New Child Support Scheme: Progress Report, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in the number of applications for child maintenance received by the Child Support Agency in the second quarter of 2004. [197355] Mr. Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested. Letter from Mike Isaac to Helen Jackson, dated 15 November 2004: In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently on leave I am replying on his behalf. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 28th October Official Report columns 55-57WS on the New Child Support Scheme: Progress Report what assessment he has made for the reasons for the fall in the number of applications for child maintenance received by the Child Support Agency in the second quarter of 2004. I am unaware of any specific factors to explain the decrease in the reported number of new applications received by the Agency during the second quarter of 2004/05.

Secondary information