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Student dads who do not financially support their children could begin to pay child maintenance, the Government has signalled.

Under current rules full-time students do not have to make any contribution.

But junior work minister Helen Goodman said a new Child Support Agency scheme will "promote responsibility amongst all parents".

She told MPs yesterday that the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has been instructed to "review the maintenance status of full-time students", and that the changes could come into effect by 2011.

Ms Goodman also said parents who do not live with their kids and who are on benefits are obliged to pay £5 a week to their children.

This goes up when they enter work.

She added: "From 2011, when the new child maintenance scheme is introduced, the payment will increase to £7."