More children benefiting as Child Support Agency continues to improve
674,000 children are now benefiting from child maintenance - an increase of more than 32,000 children since March 2007.
Figures released today by the Office of National Statistics also show the CSA is collecting and arranging more child maintenance payments, with £475m collected since March 2007.
In addition, more money owed by non-resident parents in arrears has been collected - £58m since April 2007. This is an increase of 36 per cent compared to the same period last year.
And we are clearing more cases - there are 28,000 fewer uncleared cases on the new scheme than in March 2007.
Child Maintenance Minister Lord McKenzie said:
I am heartened by the undeniable progress that the CSA has made over the last year. Performance has improved in many areas with almost 675,000 children now benefiting from child maintenance payments, new applications processed quicker than ever, and enforcement stepped up to make sure parents pay what they owe their children. This is credit to the hard work and commitment of the Agency's employees.
But we are not complacent and recognise that there is still much to do in some areas; the Agency has ambitious plans to continue improving its performance and deliver a firm platform for the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to build on when it is established next year, which will lift even more children out of poverty, give power and choice to parents, enforce responsibilities, and deliver value for taxpayers.
Read a copy of the quarterly summary of statistics
