KEETCH WELCOMES SCRAPPING OF CSA

11.16.27am GMT Tue 25th Jul 2006

Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, is relieved that the Government plans to scrap the Child Support Agency in response to a review of the arrangements carried out by Sir David Henshaw. His findings were released on Monday.

The CSA has been plagued with problems since it was set up in 1993 and has failed to collect £3.5 billion pounds from absent parents in the last 13 years.

Ministers from the Department of Work and Pensions have said that they want more families to try and resolve problems for themselves and not involve the state.

"An amicable resolution between both parents is obviously the best outcome for families but unfortunately this does not happen as often as we'd like," said Mr Keetch.

"There must be an effective, fair and speedy organisation to replace the CSA that intervenes where an agreement between parents cannot be reached. It is imperative that any new reforms must be more than just a face lift - they must solve problems for families and avoid the financial hardships exacerbated by the CSA," Mr Keetch added.