Current public information on
transition
262. We heard evidence that there is a concern as
to how people will be informed of the transition process based
on the public's reaction so far to media stories. Citizens Advice
told us that it had already faced people confused by the announcement
of changes:
"Much of publicity surrounding the publication
of Sir David Henshaw's report, and the Government's initial response,
in July 2006 suggested that the CSA was being scrapped. This
caused some people seeking advice from our bureaux to wonder whether
their liability for child support had come to an end, and prompted
others to seek advice about how an outstanding application for
maintenance would be affected."
They argued that:
"Clearer information to all individual users
of the CSA should have been provided so that no-one was left in
any doubt about how the announcements affected their current position,
and how changes in the future might alter it. Large numbers of
the enquiries received by Citizens Advice Bureaux are from parents
who are paying or receiving money under the child support scheme
dating from before 2003, and these people, as well as everyone
else, might reasonably expect to be told what the proposed reforms
meant to them."[293]
And also recommended:
" the CSA should now take greater responsibility
for informing people currently in the child support system about
their current position and about the effect any changes may have
on them."[294]
263. Parentline Plus stated that it was conscious
of the huge impact the announcement that changes to the child
support system could cause: "We anticipate a massive increase
in parental anxiety as the changes are introduced."[295]
264. We are
disappointed that having emphasised the importance of advice services
in the White Paper there is evidence that the Government has already
failed in explaining to current CSA clients what the potential
meaning of the White Paper is to them. This is a vulnerable client
group whose needs must be anticipated and met and we ask the Government
to address this urgently.
272 
