WEIR CALLS FOR NEW CSA SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR OVERSEAS IMPLEMENTATION

Mike Weir MP, SNP Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions has called upon the UK Government to ensure that agreements made under the proposed new Child Support system will be implemented in overseas jurisdictions where reciprocal agreements on court decrees exist.

Mr Weir today (Monday) asked the Work & Pensions Secretary if new agreements would be enforceable in the same in the same way as court decrees and if he would look at measures to enforce them in overseas jurisdictions.

Mr Weir said:

“I am encouraged by the Minister’s recognition of the importance of the matter.  Several of my constituents in Angus have received an award from the CSA but have found that if the other party moves overseas it is worthless.

“If the new rules are to tackle the many problems of the Child Support Agency then the government must ensure that agreements made under the scheme have the force of a court decree and can be enforced where there are reciprocal agreements.  There is absolutely no reason why, for example, they cannot be enforceable throughout the European Union.”

Mr Weir added:

“Such a move would not completely address problems since some nations do not have reciprocal arrangements, and I urge the government to address this by ensuring agreements are entered into”