Michael Allum: Enforcement of Child Maintenance - Lessons from Abroad

The Child Support Agency (CSA) came into effect on 5 April 1993. Right from the outset there was widespread criticism from the media Parliament practicing lawyers and the judiciary about the effectiveness of the CSA. Frustrations were inflated in light of the comparative successes of similar agencies abroad. Since its conception the CSA has consistently trailed in the wake of many foreign agencies. So as the CSA prepares to enter its twentieth year is it not time to start learning some lessons from abroad?   

In fact mistakes were being made before the 1991 Act had even been passed. Just 18 months after Mrs Thatcher first declared that "no father should be able to escape from his responsibility" the legislation was on the statute books. In the intervening months the White Paper's consultation period lasted just six weeks no summary of the responses was ever published and the decision was taken not to issue a Green Paper. In contrast in Australia reports were being produced recommending the introduction of a child support agency as early as 1980. Furthermore in...

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