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THE troubled Child Support Agency is getting better at making absent parents pay up - with a total of £11.8million collected in south Essex last year.

Last year, the agency was branded unfit for purpose, but bosses say it is getting better all the time. Nationally, it has collected a record £1billion in the past 12 months.

This compares to just £6.5 billion in the previous 14 years it had been in existence.

Figures released by the agency show more than £2.5 million was collected in Southend between April 2007 to March 2008.

In Thurrock and Basildon, £6.3 million was collected , while in Castle Point the figure was £1.8million and £1.2million in Rochford.

Across all these areas, the money benefitted more than 8,000 children.

Mark Flewitt, Southend cabinet member responsible for adult social care, said: "The figures are a bit more satisfactory.".

Malcolm Buckley, leader of Basildon Council, welcomed the figures, saying: "This is good news as the whole point of setting up the CSA was to ensure families with young children get the money they deserve."

8:51am Friday 9th May 2008

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