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| Absent parents may lose passports | Absent parents may lose passports |
| (1 day later) | |
| Absent parents who do not pay child support could have their passports and driving licences seized without having to be taken to court. | Absent parents who do not pay child support could have their passports and driving licences seized without having to be taken to court. |
| The Department for Work and Pensions said the proposals contained in the Welfare Reform Bill would be a "last resort" if other sanctions failed. | The Department for Work and Pensions said the proposals contained in the Welfare Reform Bill would be a "last resort" if other sanctions failed. |
| Latest estimates suggest absent parents owe nearly £4bn in unpaid maintenance. | Latest estimates suggest absent parents owe nearly £4bn in unpaid maintenance. |
| But opponents say the government's plans could lead to breaches of parents' civil rights. | But opponents say the government's plans could lead to breaches of parents' civil rights. |
| 'Tough times' | 'Tough times' |
| The Child Support Agency can confiscate the driving licences of parents who refused to pay for their children, but it had to apply for a court order to do so. | The Child Support Agency can confiscate the driving licences of parents who refused to pay for their children, but it had to apply for a court order to do so. |
| Last year, Parliament passed an act giving the body which oversees the CSA and is developing its successor - the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) - the same power in relation to passports. | Last year, Parliament passed an act giving the body which oversees the CSA and is developing its successor - the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) - the same power in relation to passports. |
| The new legislation would allow the CMEC to bypass the courts and confiscate absent parents' passports and driving licences until the money is paid in full. | The new legislation would allow the CMEC to bypass the courts and confiscate absent parents' passports and driving licences until the money is paid in full. |
| The government is debating welfare reform whilst standing on the burning ship Frank Field, Labour MP Reaction to child support plans | The government is debating welfare reform whilst standing on the burning ship Frank Field, Labour MP Reaction to child support plans |
| The government argues that this is "faster, simpler and easier for the taxpayer". | The government argues that this is "faster, simpler and easier for the taxpayer". |
| 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 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 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. |
| Opponents are worried that civil liberties may be undermined if bureaucrats have the power to take away passports and driving licences. | Opponents are worried that civil liberties may be undermined 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. |
| Time limit | Time limit |
| 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." |
| The Welfare Reform Bill also includes measures to require many single parents and people on incapacity benefit to seek work. | The Welfare Reform Bill also includes measures to require many single parents and people on incapacity benefit to seek work. |
| But Labour MP and former welfare reform minister Frank Field said: "The government is debating welfare reform whilst standing on the burning ship." | But Labour MP and former welfare reform minister Frank Field said: "The government is debating welfare reform whilst standing on the burning ship." |
| He is calling for a time limit on benefits for under-25s who have never worked. | He is calling for a time limit on benefits for under-25s who have never worked. |
| In a report for the Reform think-tank he also advocates the National Insurance system being reformed so that employees with a longer record of work receive more contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance if made redundant. | In a report for the Reform think-tank he also advocates the National Insurance system being reformed so that employees with a longer record of work receive more contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance if made redundant. |