Written Question·Department for Work and Pensions·UIN 111491

Children: Maintenance

Tabled: 6 February 2026

Answered: 23 February 2026

Question

Sarah Hall

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to (a) improve the Child Maintenance Service and (b) ensure that payments are made.

Answer

Andrew Western

The Government’s aim is for the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to remove the direct pay service in order to tackle non-compliance more quickly. This change will be made when Parliamentary time allows. Moving to a single, strengthened Collect and Pay syst...

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