>Charities join forces to write a letter to Theresa May MP, pointing out that women will be penalised unfairly by new child support proposals.

Ninety-seven per cent of parents with care who are eligible to receive child maintenance are women.

The proposed procedural and financial hurdles to be introduced from 2012 for all applicants to the statutory maintenance system will unfairly impact on them, rather than on non-resident parents (mostly fathers) who have failed to meet their responsibilities to their children.

The proposals do not adequately address the issue of domestic violence or child abuse and will place women and children at risk.