- 3 updates
MPs to debate child maintenance reforms
Plans to scrap the Child Support Agency and replace it with a child maintenance agency will be debated by MPs later today. Iain Duncan Smith says plans to charge extra for lodging a complaint will help the Government cover costs.
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Govt: 'Children are at the centre of these reforms'
Pensions minister Steve Webb denied the Government's child maintenance reforms were "immoral" for imposing charges on money meant for youngsters at the centre of their parents' strained relationship
Lib Dem Webb defended the plans and told Daybreak "children are at the centre of these reforms".
"The 20% additional charge is on top of the maintenance that is paid across to the family.
"What that does is for somebody who is not complying, who is not taking their responsibilities seriously, that provides them with an incentive they do not currently have to sort things out directly with their partner."
Mr Webb added that the department of work and pensions was trying to help those already" trying to turn things round" and all the evidence pointed to encouraging parents to sort out finances between themselves
Breakdown of child maintenance reforms
The Government claims it will save £145m if it makes sweeping changes to the child maintenance system.
Those changes are:
- Child Support Agency being replaced by a Child Maintenance Service. A million cases will be transferred to the new service.
- 4% of all payments will be kept by the Government to cover the cost of dealing with disputes.
- £20 fee to lodge a claim - as an incentive for estranged couples to come to a deal without the state's help.
- Parents who fail to pay maintenance will be charged an additional 20% on top of their children's maintenance, which the government will keep.
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Controversial child maintenance reforms to be debated
Reforms to child maintenance payments between separated couples are due to be debated by MPs later today.
The Government plans to replace the Child Support Agency with a new body which will charge parents £20 for using their services.
The work and pensions department says reforms will encourage parents to work out an arrangement between themselves and not get the state involved.
However, campaigners are worried plans will exacerbate already strained relationships.
Single parent charity Gingerbread will be handing a petition into Downing Street this afternoon.