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27/01/2009
New Plans Target Absent Parents
Absent parents who do not pay child support could have their passports and driving licences seized, under new proposals.
The Department for Work and Pensions are to take the measure, part of the Welfare Reform Bill, to the Parliament as part of an attempt to recover some of the country's estimated £4 billion in unpaid maintenance bills.
The proposals would give officials from the from the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) the power to seize passports and driving licences from wayward parents, without the need to go to court.
The Welfare Reform Bill would enable CMEC to bypass the courts and order absent parents to directly give up p their driving licences and passports until they have met their financial obligations. The Department for Work and Pensions said the move would be a "last resort" after other means of securing cash for kids have failed.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We are supporting parents in these tough times, but for those who choose not to support their own kids, we will not stand by and do nothing. If a parent refuses to pay up then we will stop them travelling abroad or even using their car.
"We want fair rules for everybody and that means giving people the support they need, but in return expecting them to live up to their responsibilities."
Similar schemes in the US and Australia have been successful in increasing payments.
However, the proposed plans have been criticised by opponents worried civil liberties may be undermined if bureaucrats have the power to take away passports and driving licences.
Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman, said: "This latest bill will have more talking tough, but we've heard it all before. What we really need is an efficient, effective system and this bill isn't going to bring it in."
(JM/BMcC)
The Department for Work and Pensions are to take the measure, part of the Welfare Reform Bill, to the Parliament as part of an attempt to recover some of the country's estimated £4 billion in unpaid maintenance bills.
The proposals would give officials from the from the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) the power to seize passports and driving licences from wayward parents, without the need to go to court.
The Welfare Reform Bill would enable CMEC to bypass the courts and order absent parents to directly give up p their driving licences and passports until they have met their financial obligations. The Department for Work and Pensions said the move would be a "last resort" after other means of securing cash for kids have failed.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We are supporting parents in these tough times, but for those who choose not to support their own kids, we will not stand by and do nothing. If a parent refuses to pay up then we will stop them travelling abroad or even using their car.
"We want fair rules for everybody and that means giving people the support they need, but in return expecting them to live up to their responsibilities."
Similar schemes in the US and Australia have been successful in increasing payments.
However, the proposed plans have been criticised by opponents worried civil liberties may be undermined if bureaucrats have the power to take away passports and driving licences.
Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman, said: "This latest bill will have more talking tough, but we've heard it all before. What we really need is an efficient, effective system and this bill isn't going to bring it in."
(JM/BMcC)
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