Dundee Liberal Democrats say Child Support Agency replacement must work more effectively

9.02.00am GMT Mon 11th Dec 2006

Murray Dick says Child Support Agency replacement must work more effectively

This week's likely publication of the Government's white paper on their proposals to replace the Child Support Agency has led Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Monday 11th December) to demand that the CSA's replacement much be much more effective than the "disastrously failed CSA has been."

Liberal Democrats believe the CSA needs to be scrapped and replaced with a better targeted organisation work through HMRC which can easily deduct child support payments at source.

Responding to the announcement in the Queen's Speech Lib Dem spokesman David Laws MP said "Welfare reform had been one of the big disaster areas of the Blair era, with much promised and little delivered. It remains to be seen whether this is a re-badging operation, or fundamental reform. In the meantime, I fear that the Government is going to try to write-off hundreds of millions of pounds worth of maintenance arrears, which many families have been waiting years for."

Here in Dundee, LibDem spokesperson Murray Dick said, "Its vital the government gets it right this time. The Child Support Agency has been a disaster for thousands of parents."

Related Links:

Crisis at the Child Support Agency.

Anger at plan to axe CSA debts - Observer.