- You have said that this Bill will receive accelerated passage through the Assembly. Given that there are administrative considerations as well as financial ones involved, do you think this course is satisfactory? Will the Committee be able to take evidence on the issues, or will the Assembly have a chance to debate the Bill? How will carers be defined in the Bill?
- Standing Order 39 deals with accelerated passage. The Assembly will have the chance to debate the Bill at both its second stage and consideration stage. However, the underlying principle is that N. Ireland has parity with Great Britain. As well as time constraints, there are cost implications tied up in this, for example, computer systems for the Child Support Agency.
The legislation will give a clear definition for carers.
- As the Bill progresses through its stages, will it be possible for Departmental officials to give the Committee presentations so that it can be fully informed of the issues? Is the Department satisfied that "income" will be clearly defined in the new legislation?
- I see no problem with officials giving the Committee in-depth information on the progress of the Bill.
The new system is intended to provide a fair, straightforward formula with fewer hoops for the individual to go through in the assessment process. The formula as to what income is taken into account and what is disregarded is clearly set out. This should speed up the process and ensure that individuals are not faced with huge bills after a lengthy calculation period.
- Will the non-resident parents who are on benefit still be expected to make a Child Support contribution under the new system?
- Yes, though the most they will have to pay is £5 per week. It is a question of balancing parental responsibility with the burden of the taxpayer. Some recognition of responsibility has to be built into the system.
- How will the current Child Support cases be converted on to the new scheme?
- The new system will be operational by April 2002 for all new cases. The existing cases will be converted through a phased system thereafter. This transitional scheme should see about 85% to 90% of the cases reassessed within five years.
- So those existing cases which involve a change of circumstances after April 2002 will continue to be treated under the old system until they come up for conversion: that seems unfair?
- The new system has to be phased in within the resources available; it cannot be done overnight. There are 30,000 Child Support cases in N. Ireland alone and in the conversion exercise we want to ensure that there is no repetition of past failures. The Agency aims to have 23% of cases converted after one year, 44% after two years, 61% after three years, and 85% after four years.
- What criteria will the Agency use to prioritize cases for conversion?
- At present there are only proposals for legislation. These types of details have not been worked out yet.
Social Development Minutes 07 July 2000