JACK Straw has led local MPs in welcoming new powers to hit absent parents who don’t pay their child support through their credit ratings because of his personal experience.

He revealed as a youngster, he awaited the arrival of his father’s weekly allowance in the post, because if the cash did not arrive, he got no pocket money.

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The former Labour cabinet minister and Tory colleagues Nigel Evans and Andrew Stephenson all backed tougher powers against irresponsible parents who fail to pay child maintenance announced today.

In future, the Child Main-tenance Service will share information about non-payment with credit reference agencies.

This means refusal to contribute to their child-ren’s upbringing could mean parents being declined loans, credit cards and phone contracts.

Mr Straw said: “My parents divorced when I was ten and my absent father had to send my mother cash every week.

“We eagerly awaited that envelope because if it did not arrive, the family was in financial crisis.

“Too many absent parents, mainly fathers, still get away with not supporting their children.

“This should help stop that.”

Pendle MP Mr Stephen-son said: “This is an excellent idea. Parents should support their children.

“I know from my constituency surgeries too many still avoid it. It is debt they should pay and must be treated as such.”

Ribble Valley MP Mr Evans said: “Provided there are safeguards, this is a good move to make absent parents pay for the children’s upkeep.

“That should be their first responsibility.”

Child Maintenance Mini-ster Steve Webb said: “I hope that we see this power used very little, because the deterrent effect of a possible negative mark on a person’s credit rating will convince those who have previously failed to pay towards their children’s upbringing to do the right thing.”