Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage stood up for separated parents and their children in Parliament yesterday.
The local MP took part in a Westminster Hall debate on problems with the Child Support Agency (CSA). The debate followed reports that the CSA will be able to collect just £1 billion of the £3.7 billion owed by absent parents.
During the debate, Caroline argued that children suffer the most from the poor performance of the CSA. She said:
"The failures in the Child Support Agency, whether they arise from poor administration or bad decisions, have had a direct impact on the well-being and security of children throughout the country."
The Gosport MP went on to cautiously welcome the Government's reforms, which will see a move to more collaborative, family-based agreements, but stressed that negotiation was not possible for all parents. She highlighted "the problem of those whose ex-partners earn very little on paper, although the new car on the drive and frequent sunshine holidays belie that, and suggest more cash in hand" and called for joined-up thinking across Government to tackle this.
Speaking after the debate Caroline added:
"I was glad to be able to voice the concerns of parents in Gosport in this debate. As we move towards a more positive, collaborative model, it is vital that we don't forget those parents for whom mediation simply isn't an option, for the sake of the children involved."