13 February 2006
Mike Penning condemns the long-term failures of the Child Support Agency and raises concerns that the review announced by the Work and Pensions Secretary will cause more anguish for parents.
Commenting on John Hutton’s announcement of a major overhaul for the Child Support Agency, Mike Penning said: “I know from my postbag and surgeries that many single parent families in the Hemel area are experiencing real hardship and suffering as a result of the failure of the CSA to do its job properly. I welcome a major overhaul of the CSA, but hope that it has not come too late, or cause yet more anguish, for people already caught up in the system.” He continued: “The CSA has been in a constant state of crisis and the Government must take responsibility for failing to provide clear leadership. The CSA is trying to be investigator, adjudicator and enforcer all in one and it is clear it would be better if these roles were separated.” The cost to the taxpayer of these failures is staggering. A £500,000 million computer system has never worked properly and is now being written off, leaving 330,000 applications unprocessed. £3.3 billion of arrears have been allowed to accumulate and, last year, the enforcement unit collected just £8 million – at a cost of £12 million!
Commenting on John Hutton’s announcement of a major overhaul for the Child Support Agency, Mike Penning said: “I know from my postbag and surgeries that many single parent families in the Hemel area are experiencing real hardship and suffering as a result of the failure of the CSA to do its job properly. I welcome a major overhaul of the CSA, but hope that it has not come too late, or cause yet more anguish, for people already caught up in the system.” He continued: “The CSA has been in a constant state of crisis and the Government must take responsibility for failing to provide clear leadership. The CSA is trying to be investigator, adjudicator and enforcer all in one and it is clear it would be better if these roles were separated.” The cost to the taxpayer of these failures is staggering. A £500,000 million computer system has never worked properly and is now being written off, leaving 330,000 applications unprocessed. £3.3 billion of arrears have been allowed to accumulate and, last year, the enforcement unit collected just £8 million – at a cost of £12 million!