Child Support Agency failing, MPs warn

The Child Support Agency is failing over half a million children
and should be scrapped if it does not get tougher with non-resident
parents and improve its management, writes Mithran
Samuel.

The report from the work and pensions select committee also had
tough messages for the government, calling for its planned 25 per
cent reduction in CSA staff to be halted.

Chair Sir Archy Kirkwood said: “The CSA is operating on
borrowed time. Rapid, radical action is needed if the Department
[for Work and Pensions] is to deliver a service that children
deserve.”

The report blames senior managers for failings in the
implementation of the agency’s new IT system and a lack of
guidance and apparently inadequate training for frontline
staff.

Report from
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmworpen/44/44i.pdf