CSA beyond repair and should be scrapped!

12.00.00am GMT Wed 26th Jan 2005

Commenting on the new Work and Pensions Select Committee report condemning the failing performance of the Child Support Agency, Annette Brooke MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Spokesperson for Children, said:

"Families and children have suffered for too long, as successive governments have failed to get a grip on the CSA. It has been patched so many times that it is beyond repair and should now be scrapped.

"I welcome this report, which reinforces the view that the CSA is beyond repair. The Committee has a Labour majority and the Government should take heed of what its own MPs are saying.

"The Inland Revenue already holds information about family incomes and children so could easily take over the assessment of child maintenance. The Inland Revenue would also be far more effective than the CSA at collecting maintenance."

The Department for Work and Pensions report, published today (26 January 2005) makes 30 recommendations, and begins with the comments:

"We believe the Child Support Agency is a failing organisation which is currently in crisis. Rapid and radical action must be taken in order to provide an acceptable service for the children who are its beneficiaries."