Child maintenance must work for children says National Council for One Parent Families

enable javascript

Child maintenance must work for children says National Council for One Parent Families (incorporating Gingerbread)

06/06/07 The real test of today's Child Maintenance Bill is whether the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) can actually deliver for children in separated families and help to tackle the scandal of child poverty.

Gingerbread: National Council for One Parent Families' Chief Executive Chris Pond said:

"We've had tough talk from successive governments. Now we need action. The proportion of lone parent families receiving child maintenance (at 33 per cent) is barely higher than it was before the Child Support Agency was first established 16 years ago. Child maintenance can make a real difference to children's lives - where it is paid, around half of children in families on benefit are lifted out of poverty.

"The Government wants more people to sort out their own maintenance arrangements. For some that will work, but for others the do-it-yourself system isn't enough. Unfortunately, a saloon-bar culture of non-payment has been allowed to grow.

"This is the third attempt under successive government's since 1991 and this time the Government has to get it right. We need a strong and competent new organisation, which will intervene immediately if lone parents request it; swiftly and efficiently collect child maintenance on their behalf; and pursue arrears vigorously if needs be. Only in this way, will the proportion of families receiving child maintenance be increased from their present shocking levels.

"Naming and shaming 'dead-beat dads' may grab the headlines, but will make little difference to hard-core non-payers and could cause real distress to the children involved, who could face bullying at school as a result. It's no substitute for concerted and systematic action to chase up missed payments and to pursue those who lie about their finances to reduce their liabilities for their children. And we have to get the message across, that those who refuse to meet their responsibilities are cheating, not a faceless Government agency, but their own children."

...Back to previous page


	Account
	Log In Register (new user)





Lone parents caring for a child with a disability or long- term health problem

	Resources
	Print Page E-mail Page Advanced Search Shopping Cart Links WWW One Parent Families Scotland Parentline Plus Links this site One Parent Families Manchester Links WWW Back to Signposter Office Contact One Parent Families\| Gingerbread 255 Kentish Town Road London NW5 2LX Helpline: 0800 018 5026 Tel: 020 7428 5400 Fax: 020 7482 4851 Click to email us Note: we cannot answer emails seeking personal advice. Please refer to the Helpline. Helpline Number - 0800 018 5026 Calls are FREE from landlines. Mobile rates vary. Get Adobe Reader

The National Council for One Parent Families is a registered charity no: 230750

and a company limited by guarantee and registered in London no: 402748.

VAT number 587315610. View our privacy policy and our disclaimer.

If you have any comments on this web site please send them to

our web site manager web@oneparentfamilies.org.uk.

Design & development by Engino 2003 - 2008