CSA REFORM MUST BE MORE THAN EMPTY GIMMICKS - BROOKE

3.17.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th Jun 2007

Commenting on the publication of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Young People & Families, Annette Brooke MP said:

"The CSA needs root and branch reform not a gimmicky re-branding exercise

"Naming and shaming and placing curfews on absent parents who fail to pay their child support may grab a few headlines but it will be little comfort to the families who are owed up to £3.5bn in child support back-payments

"I still have constituents who have not received a penny over the last 10 years.

"The fact that it has taken ten years for the Government to reform the CSA is a disgrace. However, knowing that it will be up to another six years for this Bill to come fully into force is unforgivable

"The CSA needs immediate wholesale reform moving its collection functions to the Treasury who are far better placed to enforce deduction of earnings, and creating a transparent appeals mechanism.

"Nine years ago the Prime Minister admitted the CSA had lost the confidence of the public, three weeks from quitting he finally gets round to trying to fix it.

"As Tony Blair leaves office his legacy will be a lost generation of children pushed into poverty by an incompetent organisation and an inept government."

ENDS