Press Release 

• Parents who are actively involved in their children’s upbringing are more likely to contribute financially

• Government plans to ‘name and shame’ parents who refuse to pay maintenance will fuel hostility between separating partners

• Encouraging and supporting non-resident parents to spend more time with their children will reduce the need for an agency such as the CSA

The government is expected to issue a white paper in Parliament at around

12:30pm Wednesday detailing Work & Pensions Secretary John Hutton’s

reforms to the troubled Child Support Agency.

As well as including details of the smaller body intended to replace the CSA, the

white paper will announce ministers’ plans to publish a website listing the names

of parents who refuse to pay maintenance for their children.

Families Need Fathers believes that this will increase acrimony between parents

who are already experiencing difficulty in their relationship.

John Baker, Chair of UK support charity Families Need Fathers, said: “Mr Hutton

seems to see this issue as one of whipping up hostility – instead he should be

working on solutions. One glaring solution, which wouldn’t cost the Government

a single penny, would be to actively promote the involvement of separated

parents in the lives of their children.”

“Parents who are involved with their children are more likely to support them

financially. Likewise, non-resident parents who are denied a relationship with

their children are more likely to refuse to pay maintenance. Tagging, removal of

passports and ‘naming and shaming’ is unlikely to change this,” John Baker added.

All parents have a duty to support their children, both financially and emotionally,

but the government should be promoting the idea of shared parenting rather than

supporting the current system, which allows resident parents to neglect their

children’s right to a full and loving relationship with both their parents.

“The CSA is based on the assumption that one parent has all the care, the other

should simply pay. The answer is that both parents should do both,” added John

Baker. “Encouraging and supporting non-resident parents to spend more time

with their children will reduce the need for an agency such as the CSA.”

- ENDS -

Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and

support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support

to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our

primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both

parents. Founded in 1975, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.