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One Parent Families takes members' CSA complaints to MP's committee
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14/10/04 On the October 13th, One Parent Families gave evidence at the Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee's enquiry on the performance of the Child Support Agency.
Our Chief Executive Nicola Simpson and our Policy Consultant Janet Allbeson appeared before the committee, drawing in their submission on the 100-plus emails we received from members who've written to tell us of their own exasperation at the agency.
Appearing with Nicola and Janet was a Glasgow-based member, Nancy Lombard. Nancy, who brought her 14-month son Dylan to the committee, got the chance to tell Mps about her own struggle to get regular payments through the agency.
We reported widespread exasperation and anger among the many lone parents who are still not receiving their child maintenance entitlements. Many of the members who wrote to us with their views expressed bitter disappointment that the new system - introduced in March 2003 - is not so far delivering the promised improvements in cash compliance.
"Parents are being asked to be their own private detectives" Janet told the Committee. And, as we know from members' emails, some find dealing with the agency so stressful that they give up on their claim.
At the hearing we emphasized the financial hardship forced on many one parent families who are having to live without child support because the agency's new scheme is not fulfilling its targets.
Recent figures - taking account of the CSA Annual Report 2003-04 and the latest report to Parliament on progress (July 2004) - show: - Up until June 2004, the CSA had taken on 404,616 child support applications under the new system but has cleared only 48 per cent of applications received
- Of the cases where a calculation had been made (117,086 cases in all up to June 2004), less than half (39 per cent) had resulted in a first payment – 46,089 in all
- As at 31 March 2004, an estimated £720 million was owed in child maintenance considered recoverable. This figure includes£35 million in overdue payments which have arisen since March 2003.
- In the first year of the new system, the CSA collected just 43 per cent of the amount of money it expected to collect (the ‘cash compliance’ figure).
After the hearing, Nancy Lombard said: "I really enjoyed giving evidence - it 's empowering to have your voice heard, especially as people tend not to listen to lone parents. I also loved the fact that the MPS on the committee welcomed having Dylan in the committee room. They took him as part of who I am - so to speak - and therefore wanted him included. They were also very sensitive to the issues being discussed."
We were pleased to generate some media coverage around the hearing - we gave interviews to a File 0n 4 programme on the agency (Radio 4, 8pm on Tuesday 12th October) and created stories in The Independent and The Standard newspapers. The committee also heard yesterday from Father's Direct and from NACSA (National Campaign Against the Child Support Agency). We'll let you know when its proceedings are published - watch this space!
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