CSA will take 20 years to collect all arrears - Laws

4.03.38pm GMT Tue 26th Dec 2006

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that at the current rate it will take 20 years for the CSA to collect unpaid child maintenance.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, David Laws MP said "With the reform of the CSA further delayed it is an absolute scandal that single parents will be spending another 20 miserable Christmases before they get all the money that is owed to them.

"Children born into the CSA system in 1993 could be as old as 34 by the time they finally receive the money which they are owed by their absent parents.

"This doesn't even take account of the £1.9 billion the CSA believes is uncollectable, meaning tens of thousands of families will never receive the money they are owed.

"The Government has spent far too long talking about reforming the CSA and not enough time actually doing it. Radical action is needed to ensure that the CSA's successor finally gets the money to families in need."