057f3528_1997_articles__s__not_necessarily_contiguous_
[Date & reference] 1997-07-09 Electronic Telegraph CSA ordered to be more aggressive in collecting debts By Jon Hibbs, Political Correspondent
THE Child Support Agency has been ordered to be more aggressive in collecting maintenance payments from absent fathers as part of the Government's programme to get lone parents off benefit and into work. Independent research shows that where fathers pay regular maintenance for their children, lone mothers find it easier to return to work. The tougher approach comes amid official estimates that the Government is on track to save £2.8 billion in benefit payments during this Parliament. Nevertheless, ministers have told the agency that it must step up its efforts to get more money more quickly, after discovering that almost two out of three fathers chased by the agency are refusing to provide proper financial support for their children. The CSA has been allocated a further £15 million from next April to employ an extra 900 staff. The Department of Social Security believes that the investment will mean an extra 83,000 absent fathers paying maintenance and should raise an extra £120 million in payments. Keith Bradley, the minister responsible for child support, said: "We are looking for substantial and sustained operational improvements from the agency, in particular in getting more maintenance paid, reducing the backlog and improving customer service." Faith Boardman, the chief executive of the CSA, has been told that agency staff will be expected to make contact with absent fathers earlier. In addition they must adopt a more "aggressive" approach to collecting the debts.
1997 articles
Extracts (not necessarily contiguous)