Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2018 (Amendment No. 3) Bill - Clause 1

Supports the Bill for speeding up enforcement actions against non-compliant parents. Mentions protections for paying parents and the right of appeal to a court as safeguards. Emphasises that it will help reduce administrative steps, enabling faster delivery of child maintenance payments.

Supports the Bill for its potential impact on families across the country and the positive effect it would have on constituents who seek help with non-compliant parents. Emphasises that faster enforcement measures will be beneficial.

Highlights systemic issues at the Child Maintenance Service and stresses the importance of the Bill in reducing delays for enforcement actions. Cites examples of constituents owing large arrears, emphasising the need to prevent financial difficulties faced by children.

Nickie Aiken supports the Bill, praising it as a crucial step towards improving the child maintenance system. She highlights the impact of non-payment on children and emphasises that while most transactions are regular and reliable, some cases require intervention to ensure timely payments. She notes that clause 2 grants the Secretary of State greater powers to intervene without court applications, which she sees as vital for reducing delays in resolving disputes.

Simon Baynes supports the Bill by acknowledging improvements made by the Government to the Child Maintenance Service, such as an increase in digital applications and referral numbers. He emphasises that clause 2 enables quicker enforcement actions against non-payers without court involvement, reducing delays for families who need child maintenance payments.

Clarkson supports the Bill as it addresses key gaps in the current child maintenance collection system. He cites personal experience and casework examples to highlight delays in obtaining court orders for child maintenance, which have significant impacts on children's health and wellbeing. He emphasises that the Bill will improve welfare by enabling administrative liability orders without going through courts.

Mohindra acknowledges the work of Siobhan Baillie and Katherine Fletcher in advancing this Bill. He emphasises that parents have a duty to support their children financially even if they are not day-to-day carers. Mohindra provides a case study from his constituency involving Nicola, who struggled for over a year to receive child maintenance payments. The Bill is seen as a solution to the limitations of current enforcement powers and will allow quicker enforcement against non-compliant parents.

The Bill is largely technical but will greatly improve the process of enforcing unpaid child maintenance. It aims to prevent unnecessary overuse in cases where there are more suitable alternatives, allowing for administrative liability orders and providing appeal rights.

Supports the Bill as it addresses issues with current legislation and allows for quicker enforcement against parents who fail to meet their obligations, reducing pressure on courts and ensuring money reaches families more quickly.

Supports the Bill which aims to improve child maintenance collection by preventing parents from playing games with court and administrative systems. Highlights that failure to pay child maintenance impacts families severely, citing a case where an ex-partner has accumulated over £10,000 in unpaid maintenance despite full-time employment. Argues for quicker enforcement measures against unwilling paying parents as proposed in clause 2.

Supports the Bill and highlights the importance of timely child maintenance payments to avoid financial and psychological distress. Acknowledges that around half of children in separated families receive no support from their non-resident parent, expressing concern over declining Child Maintenance Service performance.

[INTERVENTION] Emphasises the need to address cases where compliant parents are pursued while non-compliant ones avoid responsibilities. Highlights the importance of pursuing those who avoid their obligations.

Welcomes broad cross-party support for the Bill and praises its co-sponsors. Emphasises the Bill's importance in securing money for children more quickly from non-supportive parents, improving CMS performance, and reducing burdens on courts.

She thanked the Minister and Members for their support and acknowledged cross-party support. She highlighted that the Bill will make essential improvements to child maintenance processes and ensure money reaches children more quickly.