The plans are in response to a review by Sir David Henshaw, which waspublished on Monday (24 July) and recommended that the beleagueredagency be scrapped, with parents making their own arrangements forpayment.
In its place Henshaw recommends creating a smaller agency concentratingon those who fail to pay up and the toughest cases.
Henshaw's recommendations also include tougher penalties for parents whofail to comply, including tagging, curfews or stripping them of theirpassports.
As Children Now was going to press, work and pensions secretary JohnHutton was due to announce Government support for the recommendations'saying that the reforms would help parents keep more of the maintenanceas well as cut bureaucracy. A consultation into the plans is due shortlywith any changes expected by 2008.
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