Child Maintenance Payments Non-compliance
2026-04-27
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Millions of pounds of child maintenance go unspent annually, due to hidden non-compliance and parents pretending they cannot work.
Whether he plans to introduce curfew orders for parents who are non-compliant with child maintenance payments. Every year, millions of pounds of child maintenance go unspent, not including deductions for money hidden away and parents who pretend they cannot work. Enforcement is not working because the Government treats it like an unpaid utility bill rather than a moral obligation that people have towards their children.
The Government are committed to reforming the Child Maintenance Service to get more money to children by removing direct pay to combat hidden non-compliance, streamlining enforcement by introducing administrative liability orders and improving our most serious enforcement measures. There are currently no plans to introduce curfew measures; doing so would require amendments to primary legislation and raise significant safeguarding concerns for paying parents and those who live with them.
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Assessment & feedback
Specifically avoided committing to or discussing the introduction of curfew orders without mentioning the need for primary legislation or safeguarding concerns
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Millions of pounds of child maintenance go unspent annually, due to hidden non-compliance and parents pretending they cannot work.
Every year, millions of pounds of child maintenance go unspent, not including deductions for money hidden away and parents who pretend they cannot work. Enforcement is not working because the Government treats it like an unpaid utility bill rather than a moral obligation that people have towards their children. I would like the Minister to revisit his suggestion that the Government would need primary legislation to use curfew orders.
A range of serious enforcement powers are already available to the Department, including disqualification from driving, removal of a passport, taking control of people's goods and even commitment to prison in some cases. Significant safeguarding concerns arise as a result of the use of curfew orders; an individual subject to a curfew order recently murdered members of his family. On whether use of the orders requires primary legislation, I will follow up in writing to confirm.
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Assessment & feedback
Specifically avoided committing to or discussing the introduction of curfew orders without mentioning the need for primary legislation or safeguarding concerns
Response accuracy