CSA is a 'shambles' says children's charity
08.09.05

A leading children's charity has echoed criticism of the Child Support Agency (CSA) by former welfare minister Frank Field.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said that the CSA was a "shambles" and hundreds of thousands of children in poverty were losing out.

Kate Green OBE, Chief Executive of CPAG, said today:

"CPAG agrees with Frank Field's comments and analysis of the CSA's dire situation. The CSA is a total shambles and the system is failing the very people who are in most need.

"The new Chief Executive must get a grip of the organisation and deliver a convincing plan for reforming it as soon as possible. The review must be root and branch, as Ministers have promised, and there can be no more tinkering at the edges.

"While the CSA remains in its current form, children, mothers and fathers will continue to lose out and hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty will continue to go without.

"At the same time, the Government's own commitment to eradicate child poverty becomes more difficult to achieve."

For further information please contact:

Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk