Press Releases

12^th July 2018 - for immediate release

DWP announce draconian measures on enforcement of Child Maintenance without a proper understanding of the problems

DWP have acknowledge that “issues exist” in the current Child Maintenance formula that they are “considering further”, but have not completed an investigation first

In failing to investigate properly before introducing these measures many paying parents will be put into deep poverty and some will contemplate suicide

The CMS formula itself is primitive and unworkable in many cases. Many parents, mostly dads, feel bullied and are driven out of work and into despair

The Government’s new Child Maintenance and Arrears Strategy published today proposes write off much of the £4bn of Child Maintenance arrears is right, pragmatic and welcomed. The vast majority of such arrears were accumulated over a quarter of a century and are for relatively tiny amounts. Many of those assessed simply did not have the money to pay it at the time. Most cases of arrears have arisen largely because of:

• Incorrect calculations by the discredited scrapped Child Support Agency (CSA)
• Fundamental flaws in the calculation making payments unaffordable and discouraging work
• A failure to address issues around shared parenting arrangements
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Paul Apreda, National Manager of FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru and FNF Trustee addressed the Welsh Assembly Petitions Committee evidence session together with Dr Sue Whitcombe - Chartered Psychologist.

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14^th June 2018 - for immediate release

The Government’s response to the Women and Equality Select Committee’s Report on Fathers in the Workplace is letting down women, men and above all, children.

In failing to go for a forward-looking paternity leave solution,
the Government has shown itself to be desperately hugging the past

The Government’s response[1] today to the recommendations of the Fathers in the Workplace report by the Select Committee for Women and Equalities is a whitewash.

The Government hide behind ‘complexity’ and ‘culture’ whilst failing to recognise their own responsibility by acting as an obstacle cultural improvements. The evidence is clear, those countries that offer properly funded, non-transferable paternity have achieved:

• ·         Cultural change with shared parenting and dads taking care of far more children
• ·         A substantial reduction in the gender pay gap
• ·         A marked reduction in fatherlessness
• ·         Improvements to child mental health and other well-being measures, especially where parents have separated
• ·         Far fewer family court disputes

The trigger for such changes was when such funding was made non-transferable as many Scandinavian countries demonstrate. The evidence is in research from Sweden[2] and other nations. The evidence is in the report of the Women and Equalities Select Committee[3]. The evidence is in the many submissions to the Select Committee, including from ours at Families Need Fathers[4].

A recent study by Dr John Barry of University College London[5] found that men treasure fatherhood. Their sense of responsibility to their own children trumps all other concerns, and their own fathers are the biggest influencers on their attitude. We don’t need to wait for cultural change that is there already, but is being undermined by outdated Government policies.

Chair and Managing Trustee of Families Need Fathers, Jerry Karlin says “The Government seem stuck in a bygone age where fathers were expected to be ‘providers’ and mothers ‘carers’. This way of life may be common for some MPs, but it does not reflect how people live their lives today or how they would wish to live today. For a working couple on average wages the Government subsidises maternity leave by around £7,500 and paternity by a paltry £290 – a gender pay gap of 96%! What is more, they continue to support gender inequality in society as a whole. It’s a cop-out”

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For immediate release 24/6/2018

Some 100 delegates concurred that their presence signified that family justice had “fallen short” and continued to be “depressing”.

Sir Andrew stressed the importance of fact finding where contested allegations are made and the importance of avoiding delay that prevents the making of arrangements that meet children’s welfare needs.

Allegations of parental alienation as much as of domestic abuse need to be “determined on the same basis” Sir Andrew said.

The judiciary are to consider whether the time is right for “Early Intervention” and guidance as to what “the norm” might be for child arrangements where there are no safeguarding risks.

On Saturday 23^rd June Families Need Fathers, the UKs leading Shared Parenting charity, held a conference on the theme of restoring confidence in Family Justice. The Rt Hon Lord Justice McFarlane delivered the keynote address, tackling issues of domestic abuse allegations and parental alienation and the need to have early findings of fact in such cases in order to meet children’s welfare interests. He also charted a course for the future

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PRESS RELEASE

16^th February 2018 - for immediate release

FNF tells BBC Radio 4 Money Box programme that Heidi Allen MP’s Child Maintenance Bill gets headlines by focussing on the problems of the rich. 

But she fails to address the underlying problems of child support for both separated parents.

DWP officials undertake to investigate issues of ‘affordability’.

As backbench MP Heidi Allen’s Child Maintenance Bill approaches its second reading on 23^rd February, BBC Radio 4 Money Box Programme is looking at the problems with the current child support system.

Taking part in the programme FNF spokesman Michael Lewkowicz says the system is still set up to pit separated parents against each other and undermines any goodwill they may have to collaborate in the parenting of their children.

The reality is that for the vast majority, separation affects both parents financially but the anecdotal cases on which Heidi Allen relied at the first reading of her 10 minute rule bill diverts attention from the problems of the majority.
Specifically, the current formula for Child Maintenance:

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