CSA replacement must speed up delivery of maintenance and allow families to keep it

Commenting on the publication of today’s white paper on CSA reform, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“Poverty is particularly high in both lone parent families and second families. Many of the changes the new Commission will oversee have the potential to keep more families out of poverty, but we are disappointed they will come into force too late to help meet the Government’s target of halving child poverty by 2010. Urgent action is needed now to speed up enforcement.

“Increasing the maintenance disregard will get more help to families sooner and introduce an incentive to non-resident parents to pay up, as they know it will go to their children and not be recovered by the Government. Parents should not have to wait until 2010 for this change - it should be introduced for the current system as soon as possible and maintenance should be disregarded in full.

“If more parents can make agreements without going through the new Commission it could take a major strain off the system, allowing it to be more focussed and effective. But such agreements should be registered with the new Commission to help prevent and quickly settle disputes if either side does not keep to the agreement. Parents will also need access to independent legal advice to make these arrangements, so the Government must reconsider current proposals that will cut access to civil legal aid and advice.”

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