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Absent parents shamed on website Absent parents shamed on website
(about 8 hours later)
Absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance for their children could be named and shamed under plans to reform the Child Support Agency (CSA).Absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance for their children could be named and shamed under plans to reform the Child Support Agency (CSA).
Letters will be sent to parents to ask their permission to name their former partner on the CSA's website.Letters will be sent to parents to ask their permission to name their former partner on the CSA's website.
Critics described the move and other measures including the removal of passports and curfews as "gimmicky".Critics described the move and other measures including the removal of passports and curfews as "gimmicky".
The bill setting out what happens when the CSA is scrapped next year is also published on Wednesday. The bill setting out what happens when the CSA is scrapped next year is to published.
These new powers will mean that non-payment brings real and lasting penalties John HuttonWork and Pensions SecretaryThese new powers will mean that non-payment brings real and lasting penalties John HuttonWork and Pensions Secretary
Under the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, the CSA will be replaced by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC).Under the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, the CSA will be replaced by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC).
The government says C-MEC will have tougher powers to force absent parents to pay for their children.The government says C-MEC will have tougher powers to force absent parents to pay for their children.
Measures include:
  • Imposing a curfew on parents who refuse to pay for their children
  • Removing the passports of parents who refuse to pay maintenance
  • Allowing C-MEC to take money out of people's bank accounts if they fail to co-operate
  • Using latest available tax-year information and fixing the award for a year
  • Using gross weekly income, rather than net - to limit opportunities for manipulating income levels
  • Charging absent parents for the costs of tracking them down
  • Information sharing with credit reference agencies - potentially affecting future loan or mortgage applications
  • Naming and shaming absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance
Measures include:
  • Imposing a curfew on parents who refuse to pay for their children
  • Removing the passports of parents who refuse to pay maintenance
  • Allowing C-MEC to take money out of people's bank accounts if they fail to co-operate
  • Using latest available tax-year information and fixing the award for a year
  • Using gross weekly income, rather than net - to limit opportunities for manipulating income levels
  • Charging absent parents for the costs of tracking them down
  • Information sharing with credit reference agencies - potentially affecting future loan or mortgage applications
  • Naming and shaming absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance
John Hutton, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said: "There are a small number of parents who seem to think that paying for their kids is something they can simply choose not to do.John Hutton, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said: "There are a small number of parents who seem to think that paying for their kids is something they can simply choose not to do.
"It isn't. And these new powers will mean that non-payment brings real and lasting penalties."It isn't. And these new powers will mean that non-payment brings real and lasting penalties.
The CSA needs root and branch reform not a gimmicky re-branding exercise David Laws, Liberal DemocratsThe CSA needs root and branch reform not a gimmicky re-branding exercise David Laws, Liberal Democrats
"The new rules will be simpler and more transparent, making it harder to hide income and giving us the power to deduct money direct from bank accounts as well as from earnings.""The new rules will be simpler and more transparent, making it harder to hide income and giving us the power to deduct money direct from bank accounts as well as from earnings."
C-MEC will also work with government bodies including the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise to establish parents' income and set maintenance levels.C-MEC will also work with government bodies including the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise to establish parents' income and set maintenance levels.
'Wholesale reform''Wholesale reform'
David Laws, the Liberal Democrats' work and pensions spokesman, said it was a "disgrace" that the government had taken 10 years to reform the CSA and "unforgivable" that the reforms would not come fully into force for six years.David Laws, the Liberal Democrats' work and pensions spokesman, said it was a "disgrace" that the government had taken 10 years to reform the CSA and "unforgivable" that the reforms would not come fully into force for six years.
"The CSA needs root and branch reform not a gimmicky re-branding exercise."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," said Mr Laws."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," said Mr Laws.
He added: "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."He added: "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."
Conservative MP Alistair Burt, who was the first minister responsible for running the CSA, told BBC Radio's Five Live that the government had to be careful 'naming and shaming' did not compound the problem.
Mr Burt, now Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government, said: "The root cause of the problem is the resentment about the formula and the system of calculating the maintenance and the feeling by some that it was grossly unfair.
"And you've got to have absolute confidence in the country that the system of assessing maintenance is fair before you will get public support for such tough action as naming and shaming".
In the first round of naming and shaming, more than 100 parents are being targeted. Most will have been found guilty in open court this year of failing to provide information or providing false information.In the first round of naming and shaming, more than 100 parents are being targeted. Most will have been found guilty in open court this year of failing to provide information or providing false information.
The parent who looks after the children will be first asked to give their permission for their former partner to be named.The parent who looks after the children will be first asked to give their permission for their former partner to be named.
Anyone who has faced action in the family courts for non-compliance will not be included as legal restrictions prevent that from happening.Anyone who has faced action in the family courts for non-compliance will not be included as legal restrictions prevent that from happening.