Our articles are written by experts in their field and include barristers, solicitors, judges, mediators, academics and professionals from a range of related disciplines. Family Law provides a platform for debate for all the important topics, from divorce and care proceedings to transparency and access to justice. If you would like to contribute please email emma.reitano@lexisnexis.co.uk.
Spotlight
A day in the life Of...
Read on

Charity reveals worst child maintenance debts

Date:20 JUL 2010

GingerbreadSingle parent charity Gingerbread has obtained a nationwide league table of child maintenance debt showing, by parliamentary constituency, just how much money is owed to children by non-resident parents across the country.  

In total, there is a child maintenance ‘debt mountain' of £3,761 million, of which around £1,065 million has been judged to be collectable.

Commenting on the figures, Gingerbread's Chief Executive Fiona Weir said: "Child maintenance is vital for children in separated families. We know from single parents that this is much-needed money which pays for items such as children's clothes, school meals, trips and activities and childcare.

"Ultimately the responsibility for paying child maintenance rests with the non-resident parent, but the Child Support Agency has to do its job too in collecting debts and enforcing payment." 

As of March 2010, the national league table reveals that the top twenty constituencies where most maintenance is owed:

Constituency

Amount owed

Great Grimsby

£11,069,000

Milton Keynes South West

£ 10,495,000

Blackpool South

£10,370,000

Telford

£ 10,196,000

Thurrock

£ 10,155,000

Kingston upon Hull East

£ 10,044,000

Gloucester

£ 9,710,000

Leeds Central

£ 9,612,000

Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle

£ 9,559,000

Croydon North

£ 9,478,000

Halton

£ 9,452,000

Cannock Chase

£ 9,375,000

Rochford and Southend East

£9,330,000

North East Milton Keynes

£ 9,330,000

Great Yarmouth

£ 9,317,000

Southampton, Itchen

£ 9,269,000

Portsmouth South

£ 9,243,000

West Bromwich West

£ 9,233,000

Hastings and Rye

£ 9,194,000

Birmingham, Ladywood

£ 9,184,000

 

Categories:
News