§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they believe the decision taken in 1991 to assess child support separately from spousal maintenance has been a success. [HL2492]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The Government believe that all children have the right to the financial and emotional support of both their parents, wherever they live and whether or 57WA not they are married. The court approach of combining child and spousal maintenance was seen to be failing children. The amount of maintenance awarded by the courts varied widely for fathers in very similar circumstances. At the same levels of income a quarter of non-resident parents with one child to support paid less than £12 while a quarter paid more than £22. With three children and the same income, a quarter of fathers paid less than £15 per week while a quarter paid more than £40 per week.
We therefore agreed with the decision to introduce separate arrangements for child maintenance in 1993. In practice, however, the current child support scheme has failed to provide children with the regular help they need.
That is why we have reviewed all aspects of the current arrangements. Our proposals for reform are set out in the Green Paper Children First—a new approach to child support (Cm 3992) which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Security presented to Parliament on 6 July.