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Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill

I want to make a brief contribution on Third Reading. I reiterate the Under-Secretary's comments about CSA staff. They are the one group who are not to blame for its problems. As a constituency Member of Parliament, I have often had to phone the CSA and I have always found the staff as helpful as they can be, given the computer system with which they have to work. Many have struggled manfully, if that is the right word, with an inadequate system over the years, trying to provide a service. I have often felt that my office has acted as a firewall between the CSA and irate constituents who are at the end of their tether. Unfortunately, many CSA staff have experienced that frustration from constituents on the end of a telephone before they reach their Member of Parliament. We have been able to sort out many cases; some are easier, but others seem to disappear into a black hole—and such is their complexity that it is almost impossible to get them out. I hope that efforts will be made to deal with those legacy cases, because it is important to get them sorted out. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission genuinely represents a new beginning. I am pleased that CMEC will have Crown status. That is welcome—the staff in particular will welcome that. The CPS union, which is concerned about the matter, has canvassed me on it. I am glad that the Government have listened, and I congratulate the Under-Secretary on that. We had a good Committee stage, with interesting debates, which is not always the case. The Under-Secretary and his colleagues listened patiently and answered questions. They did not change their minds on many matters, but I live in hope that perhaps they will some day. On Report, and in Committee to some extent, we focused on issues that were in dispute, but much of the Bill's content is not controversial: we are all travelling in the same direction and we all want a system that works for children and families. We may disagree on the best way in which to achieve that, but we are generally going in the same direction. However, two points need to be considered in more detail. The first is minutes of agreement. I shall not go through the arguments again. I have tried on many occasions, but the Under-Secretary is not yet convinced. Again, I live in hope that, some day, he will see the light and realise that I am right and he is wrong. However, I am not holding my breath. Secondly, the systems constitute a missed opportunity. One of the most worrying aspects of the CSA was the existence of two systems, which ran side by side with totally different outcomes, depending on when someone first got into the system. Two people who worked side by side, in exactly the same circumstances, could pay vastly different amounts. The Bill introduces a third system with CMEC, which may lead to further frustration. The Government have clearly set the percentages at a level not vastly different from the CSA system 2. However, nothing has been done to deal with those who remain in the original system. When the Under-Secretary was tackled about that in Committee, he said, pretty honestly, that time would deal with the matter. I believe that the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) dubbed that the ““biological solution”” to the problem. That is a shame because the problem will continue to resonate and undermine CMEC's fresh start. I was amazed that we got through Report without the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) taking us to Australia, but then the reference popped up on Third Reading. He gave us the reason for his fondness of Australia. My knowledge of that country comes mostly from watching ““Neighbours””, but one of the current story lines deals with child custody. I wait with bated breath to see whether we will see one of the child centres about which the hon. Gentleman has spoken so much throughout the Bill's progress. I join the general welcome for part 4. Many people in Scotland, Wales and all the former industrial areas suffer from the dreadful disease of mesothelioma. Part 4 constitutes a good way forward to ensure that they are compensated before it is too late. The Government are genuinely to be congratulated on introducing those provisions, which have all-party support. The Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru support Third Reading. We have one or two reservations, and we shall wait and see whether we can try again. However, the general thrust of the Bill is welcome. I hope that the mistake that was made with the CSA will not be made with CMEC. The CSA was underfunded from the beginning, and that led to many of its problems. When it was created I was a practising solicitor dealing with the old system—and frankly, I was glad to get out of it when I was elected to Parliament. I wish all those who have to deal with CMEC well, and I wish the body well for the future. Question put and agreed to. Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.