The old Child Support Agency could apply for a court order to confiscate the driving licences of parents who refuse to pay for their children.
The old Child Support Agency could apply for a court order to confiscate the driving licences of parents who refuse to pay for their children.
Last year, Parliament last year passed an act to give its replacement, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the same power in relation to passports.
Last year, Parliament last year passed an act to give its replacement, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the same power in relation to passports.
The new legislation will allow the CMEC to bypass the courts and confiscate absent parents' passports and driving licences until money is paid fully.
The new legislation will allow the CMEC to bypass the courts and confiscate absent parents' passports and driving licences until money is paid fully.
Fair rules
Fair rules
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We are supporting parents in these tough times, but for those who choose not to support their own kids, we will not stand by and do nothing.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We are supporting parents in these tough times, but for those who choose not to support their own kids, we will not stand by and do nothing.
"If a parent refuses to pay up then we will stop them travelling abroad or even using their car.
"If a parent refuses to pay up then we will stop them travelling abroad or even using their car.
"We want fair rules for everybody and that means giving people the support they need, but in return expecting them to live up to their responsibilities."
"We want fair rules for everybody and that means giving people the support they need, but in return expecting them to live up to their responsibilities."
Janet Allbeson, from the one parent family advisory group Gingerbread, told the BBC she supported the idea as a last resort.
Janet Allbeson, from the one parent family advisory group Gingerbread, told the BBC she supported the idea as a last resort.
"Over half of all children in single parent households are poor. And we know because parliament has told us, that if all non-resident parents who are required to pay money each week by the Child Support Agency, if they did so it would lift an extra 100,000 children out of poverty."
"Over half of all children in single parent households are poor. And we know because parliament has told us, that if all non-resident parents who are required to pay money each week by the Child Support Agency, if they did so it would lift an extra 100,000 children out of poverty."
'Talking tough'
'Talking tough'
The government says the new plan will be tested in certain areas of the country.
The government says the new plan will be tested in certain areas of the country.
Similar schemes in the US and Australia have been successful in increasing payments.
Similar schemes in the US and Australia have been successful in increasing payments.
Other powers open to the CMEC include taking money from a bank account without going through the courts; applying for a curfew, or recovering money from a dead person's estate.
Other powers open to the CMEC include taking money from a bank account without going through the courts; applying for a curfew, or recovering money from a dead person's estate.
But opponents are worried that civil liberties may be breached if bureaucrats have the power to take away passports and driving licences.
But opponents are worried that civil liberties may be breached if bureaucrats have the power to take away passports and driving licences.
The Liberal Democrats have also criticised the plans.
The Liberal Democrats have also criticised the plans.
Work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb said: "This latest bill will have more talking tough, but we've heard it all before.
Work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb said: "This latest bill will have more talking tough, but we've heard it all before.
"What we really need is an efficient, effective system and this bill isn't going to bring it in."
"What we really need is an efficient, effective system and this bill isn't going to bring it in."
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