Austerity bites at Christmas time
Christmas is a time for families to come together and celebrate.
This sentiment was well reflected in many of the Christmas cards designed for me by children in primary schools across my constituency in this year’s competition.
It is the main theme that comes through in the winning design by Woodside Primary pupil Isla Hutton. Her picture shows a happy family waiting for Santa to arrive.
Yet while this picture is echoed by many families across Hamilton, sadly too many are suffering from problems that cut through family life, including poverty and domestic violence.
As an MP it is my job to listen to the hardships of my constituents and offer advice and solutions where I can.
Sadly, this often means trying to navigate some of the more difficult aspects of the UK Government’s austerityobsessed departments.
Over the past few months I have been campaigning against the UK Government’s tax on domestic abuse victims, the four per cent levy on child support through the Child Maintenance Service.
The Child Maintenance Service operates as a collection service for child support payments between former partners.
In an ideal world, this should work to help parents bring up their children – but for many, it is costly and exploitative.
Using the service means four per cent of the child support payments to which parents are entitled goes straight into Government coffers.
The alternative is what is known as a “family-based arrangement” which involves the parent who cares for the child giving their bank details to their former partner.
This sort of arrangement works for many families where former partners have a good relationship, and where both partners understand their responsibilities towards their children’s upbringing.
However, there are many people who have fled from violent partners and who wish to have their details kept secret for their own safety.
Predominantly, these are mothers who have fled with their children, many of whom are starting their lives again in women’s shelters or temporary accommodation.
So while it is all well and good for the UK Government to encourage parents who have separated amicably to set up their own arrangements for paying child support, this is just not a feasible option for survivors of domestic abuse, who often rely on these payments as a way of establishing a safe and independent life for themselves and their children.
That means their only other option is to be charged a tax on child support payments to which they are entitled.
The UK Government have shown a complete lack of compassion and competence by introducing this charge – not only does it cost parents money, it can put the lives of domestic abuse survivors and their children in real danger.
I have written a letter to the Prime Minister, with the support of groups such as Women’s Aid, to ask for an exemption on the four per cent levy for survivors of domestic abuse.
No one deserves to be taxed for escaping a violent situation.
For many parents living in this situation, and for many families in poverty, it can be difficult getting from day to day, never mind buying presents for children.
That is why I have teamed up with the Hamilton Advertiser for their Christmas Toy Appeal.
People from across Lanark and Hamilton East have visited my office to make very generous donations for children in our area who would otherwise go without gifts to open on Christmas morning.
This is a great initiative that helps those who need it most. The generosity shown by my constituents at this time never ceases to amaze me.
I wish to thank everyone who donated to the Toy Appeal, and everyone across the constituency, a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.