Improving children’s lives must be the priority for Child Maintenance Bill

Commenting on today’s publication of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, Child Poverty Action Group’s Chief Executive, Kate Green, said:

“Behind the gimmicks to name-and-shame on the web, the Bill provides an important opportunity to improve the lives of children and families. Ministers and MPs must now focus on making sure enforcement plans in the Bill are effective at getting money to children, rather than just hitting the headlines.

“It is good news that the Government intends to change benefit disregards so that parents reliant on benefits can keep more maintenance paid to them. If there was a full disregard for the poorest parents, it would lift 85,000 children out of poverty.

“Voluntary arrangements could help end the conflicts between parents that the CSA has often inflamed. But access to free independent advice services is needed, particularly so that resident parents are not pressured into settling for less. Registration of voluntary arrangements with C-MEC to reduce future disputes should be required for the new system be as successful as possible.”

Notes to Editors

• Child Poverty Action Group is a Member of the End Child Poverty Campaign

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
press@cpag.org.uk