WEIR CALLS FOR ACTION ON CHILD SUPPORT LOOPHOLE

Angus MP Mike Weir has called for clear action by the Government to deal with the problem of those who refuse to pay child maintenance but whose lifestyle is clearly at odds with their alleged incomes.

Mr Weir intervened during Work and Pensions questions in the Commons when the Minister, James Plaskitt, said that the matter would be dealt with by using figures from Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue (HMRC).

Commenting on the matter Mr Weir said that this was insufficient:

“I have come across several cases where there is a clear problem in this area and simply accepting the figures from HMRC will not deal with it. “

“Any system of child maintenance must be clear, fair and accepted by those with whom it deals. There has been a real problem with the Child Support Agency’s reluctance to properly investigate such cases and, it appears, the same problem will exist with the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.”

“This can be a difficult area but unless strenuous efforts are made to tackle this problem then CMEC is destined to fail in the same way as the CSA.”