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Child Maintenance Service
17 March 2026
Lead MP
Kirith Entwistle
Bolton North East
Lab
Responding Minister
Andrew Western
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementNHSParliamentary ProcedureChildren & Families
Word Count: 4329
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Kirith Entwistle raised concerns about child maintenance service in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP asks for three areas of reform: a child-centred approach to maintenance decisions, meaningful safeguards upon disclosing domestic abuse, and clearer evidential standards for shared care without court orders. She also requests better access to collect-and-pay services and a named caseworker to ensure survivors are not forced into contact with perpetrators.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Child Maintenance Service is too often used by perpetrators to continue psychological and economic control, with research showing that 77% of primary carers using the CMS reported experiencing domestic abuse from the other parent. Additionally, 45% of parents in a study said that CMS involvement led to an increase in abusive behaviour. The system fails to recognise disclosures of domestic abuse, does not change case handling after disclosure, and provides no structural safeguards.
Catherine Fookes
Lab
Monmouthshire
Fookes acknowledges the stress caused by determining maintenance payments and worries that CMS allows income to be hidden, especially for self-employed individuals or directors. She suggests the CMS must be better equipped to find hidden income.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
Mr Hinchliff questioned the Minister about reliable communication, enforcement of payments, and administrative competence within the Child Maintenance Service, expressing concern over a lack of basic administrative skills.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
In Northern Ireland, a significant proportion of parents face difficulties in receiving timely maintenance due to backlogs and staff shortages. This impacts child poverty and family stability. Shannon proposes that more needs to be done to reduce these issues.
Jonathan Brash
Lab
Hartlepool
Brash raises a constituent's case where nearly £6,000 owed results in reliance on Universal Credit. He questions if the system is broken.
Joy Morrissey
Con
Beaconsfield
Morrissey thanks Juss for introducing this debate and discusses issues of fairness within the CMS rules, noting that they disproportionately favour one side in disputes leading to serious consequences such as suicide attempts.
Julia Buckley
Lab
Shrewsbury
Buckley mentions a constituent who was hounded by her ex-partner through eight consecutive CMS investigations, causing her to give up work. She agrees that vexatious complaints must be identified and prevented.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Fortune highlights the lack of communication from the CMS as a major issue, suggesting that if improved communication were in place, disputes might not escalate so severely.
Rachel Gilmour
Lib Dem
Tiverton and Minehead
Gilmour's team has been inundated with CMS casework, noting the system's faceless nature and its harmful impact on those who have experienced domestic abuse. She mentions a pattern of one-sided approval of evidence despite clear contradictory proof from other sides.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Yemm notes that incompetence by the CMS enables non-resident parents to shirk financial responsibility at the child's expense. He believes Government must look into these issues and take decisive action to ensure the CMS is fit for purpose.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Antoniazzi notes that child maintenance payments are often stopped when an ex-partner applies for child benefit, suggesting this is another form of manipulation to keep money from the custodial parent.
Vikki Slade
Lib Dem
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Ms Slade highlighted cases of abuse and non-payment by non-resident parents, citing specific instances where individuals were barred from seeing their children or faced minimal payments. She mentioned that her video on the issue garnered 1.2 million views with over 5,000 contacts expressing similar issues. Ms Slade called for a full consultation to learn from other countries and ultimately create a White Paper for better child maintenance.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
My constituent Megan's abusive former partner, who is supposed to contribute less than £1 a day towards their child's needs but fails even that, continues to exert influence over key decisions such as schooling and living arrangements. The domestic abuse persists despite her leaving him. Juss argues the CMS should support victims rather than weaponise it against them.
Government Response
Andrew Western
Government Response
Recognised the Child Maintenance Service's role in supporting families, noting its support for over 1.1 million children and annual transfers of £2.9 billion. Addressed Gingerbread's asks regarding domestic abuse safeguards, evidential standards for shared care disputes, and child welfare concerns. Emphasized improvements to communication and enforcement, including a financial investigation unit for hidden income cases. Mentioned plans to abolish direct pay as soon as parliamentary time allows to tackle coercive control and abuse.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.