Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Child Maintenance Arrears

17 May 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Kieran Mullan Con Bexhill and Battle

Justice & CourtsEmploymentChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Kieran Mullan raised concerns about child maintenance arrears in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Kieran Mullan raised concerns about non-payment of child maintenance by parents, highlighting the impact on children and the need for stricter penalties.
  • Mullan noted that despite improvements in collection, arrears have risen to over 436 million and are expected to reach 1 billion by 2031.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of addressing child maintenance but did not commit to new measures or funding, citing challenges in implementing strict actions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Kieran Mullan Con Bexhill and Battle

Kieran Mullan, a Conservative MP from Bexhill and Battle, raised the issue of non-payment of child maintenance by parents. He emphasised that while most parents take responsibility for their children's financial upkeep, there is a significant number who do not comply. He argued that such behaviour should be considered more severely than petty crimes like vandalism because it affects children directly. Mullan pointed out that despite some improvements in collecting unpaid maintenance, arrears continue to rise, with over £436 million owed and expected to reach £1 billion by 2031. He called for stricter penalties such as home curfew or detention to punish non-payers effectively.

Other contributors (1)
  • Guy Opperman Con Hexham

    He congratulated Kieran Mullan on raising a crucial issue that impacts every constituency across the country and praised his effort in conducting this, his first Adjournment debate.

Government Response

Eleanor Laing

The Minister acknowledged the importance of addressing child maintenance issues but did not specify any new commitments or funding announcements. She noted that while home detention was originally planned to be implemented under previous enforcement measures, it had yet to materialise. The Minister stated that while she understands the need for stricter actions against non-payers, there are challenges in ensuring such measures do not affect law-abiding parents who face custody issues. She also emphasised the importance of a watertight legal framework before proceeding with any new restrictions on liberty.

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