MPs urged to oppose child support proposals

Under changes proposed in the Welfare Reform Bill, which has its second reading on Wednesday (9 March), separated parents caring for children would have to show they have tried to get their former partner to pay voluntarily before their case will be taken on by the Child Support Agency’s (CSA) successor, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC).

The measures come in addition to government proposals to make single parents who want to use state maintenance services from 2012 pay a £100 application fee and an extra ongoing charge of seven to 10 per cent of the payments they receive.

Single parent charity Gingerbread and family law organisation Resolution — backed by the Children’s Society, Child Poverty Action Group and Citizens Advice — have contacted all MPs asking them to oppose the measures.

A briefing to MPs warns that the bill’s measures overestimate the number of separated couples who can make fair and reliable private child support arrangements.

Gingerbread chief executive Fiona Weir said: "In the real world, it just isn’t always possible for separated parents to come to their own child support arrangements. Measures in the bill would impede access to the state child support service for parents with care of children who really need the money, but can’t rely on their child’s other parent to pay voluntarily. 

"We are urging MPs to speak out against these measures to improve the chances of children getting the money owed to them."