NEW GATEWAY TO HELP PARENTS RESOLVE CHILD SUPPORT CASES

26 Sep 2005 04:45 PM

A new gateway will be piloted to help resolve potential Child Support Agency cases, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions David Blunkett announced today.

The service will advise working parents how they can work out for themselves satisfactory arrangements for child maintenance.

It will help people through the process of decision making and, where possible, to ensure that they are assisted in avoiding the conflict and the legal enforcement which would follow with the Child Support Agency.

David Blunkett said:

"We will publish by the end of the year the key findings of a root and branch review of the operation of the Child Support Agency, which Ministers are working on now with new Chief Executive, Stephen Geraghty.

"However, as part of this I am announcing today that in order to provide an alternative route to resolve future cases we will open discussion and pilot a gateway service.

"Using a new scheme, this will offer those who can't immediately resolve maintenance a non-legislative and simple route to finding agreement. The service would provide information and advice and in some cases would facilitate a roundtable meeting of the parties involved.

"In this way it is hoped we can reduce the flow of cases into the CSA which is currently running at 290,000 a year. This will not only help the children and parents, but also allow the CSA to focus resources on the existing backlog and the transfer of cases from the old to the new scheme.

"But I also want to give a commitment that there will be new, robust, swift and effective action against those who deny their
responsibilities or evade their obligation to their children.

"Every child has a right to a decent start in life whether their parents live together or apart. Children are entitled to care and support and both parents are responsible for providing it."

Notes to Editors

1. The service, which will be piloted in the New Year, will provide information and advice for working parents. It will explain more simply how best to calculate what should be paid, to help people through the process of decision making and where they are willing, to ensure that we assist them in avoiding the conflict, the legal enforcement, the engagement which will follow, with the Child Support Agency.

2. Stephen Geraghty was appointed Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency in April 2005. He is currently working on a strategic review of the Agency which will be announced by the end of the year.

3. Lord Philip Hunt is Minister with responsibility for the Child Support Agency.

4. For information on the Child Support Agency go to www.csa.gov.uk

Public enquiries 020 7712 2171
Textphone 0207 2380788
Website www.dwp.gov.uk