CSA accused of rewarding mums who deny child access to fathers

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Tory family welfare spokesman Andrew Selous is planning reforms to give fathers fairer settlements.

Mr Selous wants to end a rule that cuts mothers' maintenance if they let children stay with their fathers for more than a set number of nights.

It is cut by a seventh for between 52 and 103 nights a year, two sevenths for between 104 and 155 nights, three sevenths for 156 nights and by half for anything over that.

Around 40,000 estranged fathers care for their children at least 104 nights a year.

Mr Selous warned: "When a mother sees it's getting to 90 nights, she might say, 'Sorry, the children can't stay'."

He said the decision to replace the CSA with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission was ' rebranding and a massive missed opportunity'.

Mr Selous wants the commission to have a duty to help parents find a civilised arrangement over access.

The Work and Pensions Department said: "Access is a matter for the courts. Parents have the first responsibility to provide for children."