Child Maintenance Service

Emphasised the need for parents to meet their responsibilities and pay what is needed for their children. Mentioned that 60% of single-parent children could be lifted out of poverty if child maintenance was paid in full. Asked for a timeline or working update on CMS improvements, focusing on areas like domestic abuse, customer service, and enforcement. Suggested that regular updates or statements regarding improvements to the child maintenance service should be provided by the Government, either through Library placement or regular Select Committee updates.

She highlighted the distressing experiences of constituents dealing with Child Maintenance Service arrears, noting instances where parents were told they owed nothing on the phone but received letters stating otherwise. She also pointed out fraudulent claims of child benefit by care parents who claimed their children were still in full-time education when evidence suggested otherwise. Caroline Nokes called for stronger enforcement measures and expressed disappointment over the limited use of passport removal powers, urging robust implementation of such measures to ensure compliance from non-paying parents.

Grateful for Sally-Ann Hart's work on Child Maintenance issues, raises concerns about the CMS's handling of cases involving deceased parents. Asks if Sally-Ann Hart is concerned about reports of deaths among paying and receiving parents and what measures should be taken.

Raises frustration about case officers not being well-informed, leading to delays and repeated explanations from parents.

Jim Shannon expressed concerns about the Child Maintenance Service's effectiveness, particularly in Northern Ireland. He highlighted that some non-paying parents are living lavishly while their children struggle to meet basic needs due to insufficient maintenance payments. Shannon cited statistics showing a compliance rate of 79% for paying child maintenance but argued that this figure is misleading as it indicates 'some' payment rather than full adherence. He also mentioned the limited success of enforcement measures, with only £432,100 received in collection charges from paying parents and £83,400 from receiving parents between 2014 and December 2016.

Mr Mullan argues that non-payment of child maintenance is morally reprehensible and a key driver of child poverty, citing Gingerbread data showing total arrears at £547.9 million. He suggests two fundamental rethinks: applying the same expectations to find work for parents as are applied to benefit recipients, and using home curfew powers to enforce payments. Mr Mullan also calls on the Government to explain its reluctance to use home curfews and asks for a commitment to reconsider if current measures do not reduce arrears. He questioned whether the proposal for taxpayers to directly pay absent parents' child maintenance would increase moral hazard by reinforcing a lack of responsibility. Asked the shadow Minister for specific policy pledges regarding child maintenance, including whether they support home curfews.

Ms Wilson highlights complex cases where paying parents conceal income, resulting in significant arrears. She mentions mothers owed £18,000 and £22,000 respectively over six years, arguing for a full review of how such cases are handled by the CMS.

Mr. Mills highlighted the inefficiencies of the Child Maintenance Service, particularly in cases where employed parents do not pay regularly despite stable income visibility through real-time information feeds. He expressed frustration over delays in enforcement actions and the accumulation of arrears. Mr. Mills also questioned the CMS's method for calculating arrears, noting a 12-week turnaround time for demand calculations and a lack of transparency in these processes.

Asked whether the lead MP was as concerned about CMS senior management's lack of awareness regarding abuse or controlling behaviour starting after relationship breakdowns. Peter Grant noted that the Child Maintenance Service is not working and needs a complete overhaul. He highlighted the discrepancy between the UK's wealth status and the high number of children in poverty, suggesting that fixing CMS could reduce child poverty. He criticized the inefficiency of debt collection by the CMS compared to HMRC, mentioning £590 million of uncollected debt since CMS was set up. Grant also emphasized the importance of addressing parents who stop using the service out of frustration and proposed redesigning communication materials to focus on the children's needs. He called for modern IT systems and highlighted successful Scottish policies that could be adopted in England to reduce child poverty. There has been an error in the set-up of the child maintenance system that requires primary legislation to be updated. Given its outdated nature, there is a need for legislation to change it so future adjustments can be made through secondary means.

Acknowledged Mr Timms' work on the Public Accounts Committee, raising concerns about the CMS's handling of domestic abuse cases and calling for clarity regarding the status of initiatives such as single caseworkers.

The Child Maintenance Service can lift children out of poverty, but needs further reforms. The 'collect and pay' service should be free for victims of domestic abuse and means-tested for low-income households to prioritise child maintenance. There is a need for better coordination within the CMS and with other departments like family courts to improve enforcement and information sharing.

Siobhan Baillie expressed deep concern about the impact of the Child Maintenance Service on families and individuals, highlighting personal experiences and cases where the system fails to provide adequate support. She emphasized the need for a better approach that considers the complexity of family situations and stressed the importance of addressing the institutional bias in favour of receiving parents.

Recognises the importance of CMS, acknowledges past reforms but expresses concern over potential sliding back. Emphasizes that £1 billion annually goes to parents through CMS and highlights cases where children are used as pawns in disputes. Discusses the need for reducing child poverty and ensuring extra income from maintenance is critical for boosting opportunities for children. Highlights challenges faced by women and children, yet acknowledges men's struggles too.

Wendy Chamberlain highlighted cases involving domestic abuse and complex financial situations such as that of her constituent Kevin, a former military member. She criticized the CMS for mishandling overpayments and pursuing non-existent debts, leading to significant stress and negative impacts on children.