CSA Reform Bill is too little too late- Bruce

2.46.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Jun 2007

New legisation before the House of Commons aims to reform the Child Support Agency

Commenting on the publication of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill which aims to reform the controversial Child Support Agency, Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce said:

"Nearly 1000 local families in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are awaiting maintenance payments under the current system. This Bill is a long-time coming for those parents who have waited ten years for the Government to reform the catastrophe that is the CSA. It is disgraceful that their wait will continue for up to another six years before this new legislation comes fully into effect."

"Reform of the whole system is vital after 13 years of computer errors and missed payments totalling as much as £3.5 billion. But my fear is that the Government's plans to name and shame and place curfews on absentee parents will only amount to gimmickry.

"What is needed is to concentrate on getting money to the families more efficiently. That would be helped by moving the collections function of the CSA to the Treasury, which is far better placed to deduct earnings from those refusing to pay. We also need to create a fair and transparent appeals mechanism."

ENDS