Child Support Agency unrest fearThe Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA) and the Law Society this week stepped up efforts to amend the Child Support and Pensions Bill.

The SFLA said it fears a return to the unrest of the early 1990s over the Child Support Agency (CSA) if the Bill goes through unaltered.The Bill reached its committee stage in the House of Lords this week.

The SFLA is concerned that the Bill's right of appeal to the CSA following a court judgment will deter 'clean-break' settlements.

It also argues that the Bill should limit maintenance payments to avoid spouses' maintenance being added to child support packages.In addition, the SFLA is worried that reductions in maintenance for non-resident parents - to take into account periods when their children stay with them - will cause disputes and discourage parental contact.The Society's proposed amendments are substantially similar, focusing concern on the power of the CSA to intervene after the courts pass judgment.The Lords agreed to discuss the amendments at the report stage of the Bill, which comes next.

The government sponsor of the Bill in the Lords, Baroness Hollis, opposed the amendments but has agreed to meet the SFLA before the report stage.

The Law Society has also requested a meeting.SFLA chairman Rosemary Carter said: 'We are delighted that our concerns have been widely supported in the Lords, and that they are shared by mediators and counselling organisations, such as Relate.

We hope that the government will now listen.'Jeremy Fleming