Written Question·Department for Work and Pensions·UIN 106810

Children: Maintenance

Tabled: 19 January 2026
Answered: 22 January 2026

Question

Zöe Franklin

Liberal DemocratGuildford

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that Child Maintenance Service enforcement action is proportionate in cases involving (a) small and (b) short-term arrears.

Answer

Andrew Western
In cases where arrears are outstanding, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) proactively seek to negotiate with the paying parent a feasible and affordable repayment plan, taking into account the individual circumstances of each case. For small arrears pay...

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