Survey reveals North single parents are owed £261m

Jul 25 2010 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

WHEN the Child Support Agency was launched by John Major’s government in 1993 it was widely welcomed by politicians.

Until then, it had been down to the courts to make absent dads - or mums - pay for their children’s welfare.

Yet the next 17 years saw barely a day go by without the CSA coming under criticism from all corners – controversy which has led to its eventual demise.

And as the newly-formed Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission takes over the CSA’s role in a bid to get back the cash, the Sunday Sun has unearthed shocking statistics, showing £261m is owed in maintenance arrears.

That figure dates back to 1993 when it was first set up, and means thousands of single mums and dads have been left out of pocket, struggling to survive and give their youngsters the best start in life.

The statistics also reveal something of a postcode lottery, with Teesside parents topping the league of shame of parents unlikely to pay.

The constituency of Hartlepool has the highest number of parents refusing to pay, with a massive £9.1m in missed back payments, closely followed by Stockton North on £8.7m, Middlesbrough on £8.6m and Redcar owing £8.05m.

A short drive down the coast into North Yorkshire finds the constituency of Scarborough and Whitby owing £7.65m, while further inland the more affluent Hexham in Northumberland has the lowest arrears, with £2.9m owed by non-resident parents.

The Vale of York, Penrith and The Borders and Copeland also have relatively low figures compared to other areas, owing an average of £3.7m.

The data was taken from a Parliamentary question by an MP.

It was released by the single parent-supporting charity Gingerbread, which estimates a quarter of children are not getting they money they are owed.

Janet Allbeson, policy advisor for Gingerbread, said: “Many separated parents in the region are struggling to pay for things like school shoes and trips for their children because of the money owed for maintenance.