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Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP 2009/0049059PODP
Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families.
Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street Westminster London SWl P 3BT
tel: 0870 001 2345 dcsf.ministers@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Mr Duncan Fisher
37 Upper House Farm
Crickhowell
Powys
NP8 1BZ
6 Ju[ 2ooe
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Thank you for your letter of 29 May, addressed to my predecessor, Beverley
Hughes, about Child Poverty. I am replying as the new Minister of State for
Children, Young People and Families.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact the Department with
your views on this issue, Due to the change in ministerial responsibilities, I
attended the Work and Pensions Select Committee on Child Poverty. Being a
Select Committee meeting, it was not in the remit for Ministers to question or
challenge other government departments at this event.
Our Children's Plan set out our clear view of the importance of fathers and
their crucial involvement in their children's lives, whether or not they live with
their children. We know that the positive involvement of fathers can lead to
educational and behavioural benefits and better outcomes for children. As
you are aware, our recent Think Fathers campaign was about improving
service provision for fathers across the board and encouraging debate around
the importance of fathers. Through the campaign and its legacy we are
helping to drive a culture change in services that are too often focused on the
needs of the mother over those of the father. Our funding, guidance and
support to Local Aqtforities to develop local parenting-strategies withinlheir
Children and Young Peoples Plans also emphasises the importance of
supporting fathers as well as mothers.
You may be aware that the primary objective of the newly formed Child
Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is to ensure that the maximum
number of children who live apart from one or both parents benefit from an
effective maintenance arrangement. The Commission has a wider remit to
that of the earlier Child Support Agency - to enable all separated parents to
take responsibility for the financial support of their children.
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To assist with achieving this objective, the Commission has established a new
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service; Child Maintenance Options an impartial information and advice
service. This service supports both parents to make an informed decision
about child maintenance arrangements. lnformation is available to all those
affected by child maintenance issues via a national helpline, website or, if
requested, a face-to-face service. The Commission wants to encourage
dialogue and agreement between parents, which leads to effective
maintenance arrangements, while providing ongoing support for children.
As part of its activities during 2009110, the Commission expects to investigate
and open new channels with trusted intermediaries and other government
departments that interact with parents, families and children. The
Commission already holds regular meetings with key stakeholder groups who
represent families' interests. You may wish to view further information
at: http://www. child maintenance. orql
DAWN PRIMAROLO