Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Maintenance Service: Efficiency

Monday 3 February 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ben Obese-Jecty raised concerns about inefficiencies in the Child Maintenance Service, including incorrect arrears calculations and failure to verify non-compliant fathers' locations.
  • The Minister offered to meet Ben Obese-Jecty to discuss specific cases and the telephone communication issue.
  • Graeme Downie inquired if reforms to the Child Maintenance Service would consider paying parents' capital assets and voluntary pension payments in rate calculations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Obese-Jecty Con Huntingdon
Children & Families
Context

Obese-Jecty cited specific examples of CMS inefficiencies, including incorrectly calculated arrears and failure to verify fathers' locations. He noted consolatory payments due to maladministration and service delays.

Question

I have multiple casework examples from constituents in Huntingdon who have been impacted by CMS inefficiencies, including incorrectly calculated arrears with no explanation of how the sums have been calculated, and failure to verify the location of fathers who are not providing financial support. Such cases have resulted in consolatory payments from the CMS for maladministration and service delays. In all instances, my constituents have been frustrated by their inability to contact the CMS over the phone. In the quarter ending September 2024, 41% of calls to the Child Maintenance Service were not answered. What are the Government doing to improve contact with the CMS by telephone?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Western)

I am very sorry to hear of those specific examples. I will take away the point about telephone communication and come back to the hon. Gentleman, but it may be worth our having a broader conversation about his concerns. I will happily meet him to discuss any of the specifics of the cases he cited.

Partly answered

How: Will Take Away The Point, Worth Our Having A Broader Conversation

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Graeme Downie Lab Dunfermline and Dollar
Children & Families
Context

Downie raised inquiries from constituents about reforms to the Child Maintenance Service, specifically asking if the paying parent’s capital assets and voluntary pension payments would be considered in calculating unpaid payments.

Question

In response to a number of inquiries that I have had from constituents over the last couple of months, will the Minister say whether reforms to the Child Maintenance Service will include consideration of the paying parent's capital assets and voluntary pension payments when calculating the rate at which unpaid payments should be made?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Western)

My hon. Friend raises an important point. He will be aware of the recent consultation on the future administration and operation of the Child Maintenance Service. I do not want to prejudge the decisions that will follow as a result of that consultation, but I can tell him that we are considering the next steps at present, and I will update him and the House in due course.

Partly answered

How: Do Not Want To Prejudge, Considering The Next Steps

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)