Family Law Manchester News
Latest news relating to family law & divorce in Manchster
Lords reject proposed child maintenance charges
Members of the House of Lords have voted with a majority against government proposals to charge single parents to use the Child Support Agency.
Lord Mackay of Clashfern made an amendment to block government proposals and members of the House voted 270 to 128, a majority of 142 in favour of the amendment.
Under the amendment, parents with main care of children who have no alternative but to use the statutory maintenance service in order to get maintenance for their children would be exempted from government charges.
According to charity Gingerbread, Lord Mackay said: “When a woman as a typical example has taken all reasonable steps and done all she can to reach an agreement but cannot manage it, I do not agree that she should be charged by the CSA for her application…That is utterly unfair. If anyone is to pay for that, surely it should be the person who has caused the difficulty by trying to escape from his moral obligations.”
The Government intends to try to overturn the defeat.