£1billion let-off for errant fathers

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Errant fathers will be allowed to rack up an extra £1billion in unpaid child maintenance because the Government is dragging its heels over a promised overhaul, MPs heard.

Tory family welfare spokesman Maria Miller said new debt was growing by £20million a month as the shambolic Child Support Agency fails to get a grip.

She said £1billion more would be owed by the time the Government finally replaced the failed organisation in 2013.

Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton admitted the trend would continue 'because of the accumulated legacy of debt over the last 15 years'.

He added: 'With the best will in the world, neither you nor anyone else in this place or outside has a magic wand to deal with it.'

But Mrs Miller said: 'The Government is managing the CSA into a deeper debt crisis. It is not acceptable for the Government to take six years to change the process.

They will be letting down another generation of children.

LibDem MP Jo Swinson called for an end to 'ridiculously long' repayment terms. She said a constituent was owed £9,000 by her ex-husband, who had been told to repay it over 39 years.

The Government is to replace the CSA, which has already run up £3.5billion of debt, with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.

But it will not be set up until 2008 then it will take two years to implement a new computer system. Transferring cases from the CSA's system will take a further three years.

Mr Hutton told the Commons he does not intend to 'write off' any child maintenance owed by absent parents but some of it would have to be 'revalued'.

 

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