Child Maintenance Service Effectiveness
2020-10-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) in collecting child maintenance is under scrutiny due to reports from constituents and media.
What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service in collecting child maintenance?
This Government have made clear their commitment to supporting both paying and receiving parents, especially during this difficult period. Around three quarters of paying parents are paying towards their liability. The Child Maintenance Service will continue to pursue all cases where appropriate, and I stress that anyone found to be abusing the system risks being subject to the full extent of our enforcement powers.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific statistics or assessment results regarding the effectiveness were not provided; only a general commitment was given.
General Commitment
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Constituents have reported that the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is failing to adequately pursue outstanding child maintenance claims, exemplified by a case where a private pension was not disclosed and action taken only after an appeal.
I am sorry to say that the Minister's words do not sit with the experience of some of my constituents, who feel that the Child Maintenance Service has failed them in pursuing outstanding claims. I shall give the House one example... (details omitted for brevity). That is letting that person down, not supporting them.
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue, and I stress that those found abusing the system are subject to the full extent of our enforcement powers. The CMS will pursue these people, where appropriate. Our key partners are in communication with us to make sure that we secure the appropriate court dates for cases impacted by the covid-19 pandemic and that we are establishing our full and normal range of enforcement services. Where payments have been missed we are taking action to re-establish compliance, and I am happy to look at the issue for him.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions or timelines for addressing the mentioned case were not provided; only general reassurances were given.
General Commitment
Response accuracy