The case of desperate mother Debbie Moore, who faces eviction because of rent arrears which she blames on non-payment of maintenance for the care of her two daughters, highlights yet again the appalling shortcomings of the Child Support Agency.

The CSA has been a disaster from the day it was launched with the laudable aim of ensuring that the cost of caring for the children of failed relationships was met by the parents rather than by the state.

It has failed both the claimants (usually, but not always, mothers left alone to bring up children) and those whose lives have been ruined either by being falsely accused or by excessive financial demands.

Despite efforts to improve the way the system works, it continues to blunder on. Mrs Moore's case is a clear example of how its rigid and bureaucratic nature simply doesn't allow it to take account of people's real-life situations.

Mrs Moore now faces the loss of her home because the CSA introduced a new computer system which is unable to cope. As a result many people are suffering - Terry Rooney MP says that he knows of 300 cases in his Bradford North constituency alone - and the agency seems incapable of finding a way to help.

Although we are promised that change is under way to reduce the paperwork, it is not coming fast enough to help people like Mrs Moore. It is catastrophic for her that while future applicants to the CSA might benefit from the IT changes, she is left unable to work because of depression and facing the imminent prospect of being made homeless.