To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the longest repayment schedule for Child Support Agency (CSA) arrears is which has been agreed by the CSA to date; and if he will make a statement. (146136)

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-resident parents owing arrears through the Child Support Agency who are now deceased. (146149)

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 11 July 2007:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions 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, what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-resident parents owing arrears through the Child Support Agency who are now deceased.

The Agency is not able to provide an estimate of the number of non-resident parents owing arrears of child support maintenance who are deceased. Current legislation states once a non-resident parent dies, the Agency closes the case. The Agency would in such cases, if we were approached by the Executor of the Will accept an offer for child maintenance arrears. The Agency cannot make an approach directly to the Executor of the Will. It would be for the parent with care to pursue the Executor of the Will for maintenance arrears.

Since the launch of the Agency the value of debt suspended due to this reason on the old computer system is £2.645 million, the equivalent value for the new system is not available.

I hope this is helpful.