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1657344

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2022 to Question 101751 on Children: Maintenance, whether his Department (a) has launched and (b) plans to launch a review into using gross income to calculate child maintenance.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	196964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s response to the Independent Review of CMS’s handling of domestic abuse cases announced our intentions to look again at the child maintenance calculation to ensure it is fit for purpose and fair for both parents in light of societal changes since it was last looked at. The review is ongoing, and any changes would require changes to primary legislation and will be brought forward in the usual way. Any changes will always be made according to the best interests of children.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/09/2023 11:21:01 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1547641

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of calculating child maintenance payments using income net of tax.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	101751
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2022 answer text <p>To calculate child maintenance, the Child Maintenance Service uses the paying parent’s gross income before tax and national insurance but after pension contributions.</p><p> </p><p>While the method of assessment is kept under review to assure fairness for both parents, at this stage, using gross income allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately as income information can be obtained easily from HM Revenue and Customs. This avoids uncertainty for both parents and potential administrative problems.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 12/12/2022 17:36:13 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1422783

	registered interest
	date	18/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2022 to Question 119710 on Children: Maintenance, what steps her Department is taking to revise the step by step procedural instructions and training given to Child Maintenance Service caseworkers, in the context of the number of Deduction from Earnings Orders, instead of Deduction from Earnings Requests, to the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Business Services having increased between 2018-19 and 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	125320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2022 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has introduced Modular learning products to re-enforce the correct process to follow in applying a Deduction from Earnings Request (DER). In April 2021, as part of a broader System automation improvement, there were additional education and supporting products implemented to support correct decision making, including the correct use of DERs.</p><p> </p><p>CMS uses Customer Insight to ensure it learns from customer experience and has used this in developing these products and building colleague conversations around adherence to procedures and the impact of not doing so.</p><p> </p><p>In the context of DERs, collaborative working with Ministry of Defence (MOD) through a dedicated Forces Focal point secures regular feedback to direct specific colleague upskilling and manage customer service. CMS Forces Focal Point work closely with MOD’s Joint Personnel Administration Centre (JPAC) and has responsibility for assuring correct implementation of DERs. This includes confirming if the Paying Parent is in receipt of full pay or if they deployed on Operations. This is designed to support the successful implementation of a DER.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 28/02/2022 14:28:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1420368

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the number of deductions of earnings orders, rather than deductions of earnings requests, being issued by the Child Maintenance Service to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Business Services.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	119710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2022 answer text <p>Deduction from Earnings Orders (DEO) are applied as a method of payment where the Child Maintenance Service deducts maintenance directly from the Paying Parent’s wages. The DEO is primarily used to enforce payments but can be set up voluntarily. Deduction from Earnings Requests are similar to a Deduction from Earnings Order but used for Paying Parents who are serving members of the Armed Forces. The Child Maintenance Service can only request a deduction to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), unlike civilian employers they cannot order or enforce payment. MOD policy aims to comply with requests however if the Paying Parent is committed to operational duties MOD may suspend the collection of debt.</p><p> </p><p>Child Maintenance Service takes action to ensure the correct method of payment is applied through identifying whether a Paying Parent is in the Armed Forces through its use of Real Team Information (RTI) Data taken from HMRC. This provides up to date information about Pay As You Earn income as the information submitted by employers online is displayed in RTI immediately. To ensure that the correct method of payment is used for a Paying Parent who is serving in the Armed Forces caseworkers are provided with step by step procedural instructions and training.</p><p> </p><p>As at September 2021 Child Maintenance Service had 45,054 Deduction from Earnings Orders and 479 Deduction from Earnings Requests in operation. (source - Published stats – stat-xplore – CMS Paying Parents = method of payments).</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/02/2022 15:34:18 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1405272

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deductions of earnings requests were issued by the Child Maintenance Service to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Business Services for the purpose of collecting child maintenance in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	109304
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>This information is not collated as part of normal business and is only available at disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes quarterly Child Maintenance Service (CMS) statistics, with the latest statistics available to the end of September 2021, here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-september-2021-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-september-2021-experimental</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 31/01/2022 16:54:17 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1405274

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deductions of earnings orders were issued by the Child Maintenance Service to employers other than the Ministry of Defence for the purpose of collecting child maintenance in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	109305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>This information is not collated as part of normal business and is only available at disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes quarterly Child Maintenance Service (CMS) statistics, with the latest statistics available to the end of September 2021, here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-september-2021-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-september-2021-experimental</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 31/01/2022 16:55:28 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1403632

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2022 to Question 100622 on Children: Maintenance, how many deduction of earning requests made by the Child Maintenance Service have been declined by Defence Business Services in the financial year 2020-21; and what the reasons for those requests being declined were.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	105648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2022 answer text <p>In financial year 2020-21 a total of 554 deduction of earning requests were received from the Child Maintenance Service for Service personnel; of these, 142 could not be processed. The reasons for the rejections were:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>No. of Rejections</p></td><td><p>Reason for Rejection</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>118</p></td><td><p>A deduction of earning order was issued, rather than a deduction of earning request</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>Service person had been discharged</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>Service person was a reservist</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>Service Person not in receipt of pay</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>Service person in Operational Zone</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>Request addressed to a Service person directly and not to Defence Business Services</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>For Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian staff, the number of deductions of earning orders declined is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost, however, a deduction of earning order would only be rejected if an individual was no longer employed by the MOD or if they were in receipt of insufficient earnings to meet the request.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 24/01/2022 11:18:41 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1401351

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many deduction of earning requests made by the Child Maintenance Service have been declined by Defence Business Services in the last five years; and what the reasons for those requests being declined were.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	100622
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2022 answer text <p>Since January 2017 to 12 January 2022 a total of 3,456 deduction of earning requests were received from the Child Maintenance Service for Service personnel; of these, 668 could not be processed. The reasons for the rejections were:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>No. of Rejections</p></td><td><p>Reason for Rejection</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>394</p></td><td><p>A deduction of earning order was issued, rather than a deduction of earning request</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>144</p></td><td><p>Service person had been discharged</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>88</p></td><td><p>Service person was a reservist</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>No trace of individual</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>Service Person not in receipt of pay</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>Service person in Operational Zone</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>Request addressed to a Service person directly and not to Defence Business Services</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>For MOD civilian staff, the number of deductions of earning orders declined is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost, however, a deduction of earning order would only be rejected if an individual was no longer employed by the MOD or if they were in receipt of insufficient earnings to meet the request.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 17/01/2022 15:11:59 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1352356

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria the Child Maintenance Service uses to determine whether pensions contributions made by non-resident parents are reasonable when deciding whether to make a child maintenance payment variation on grounds of diversion of income.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	42007
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2021 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service can consider whether pension contributions made by the non-resident parent are reasonable if the parent with care has sufficient grounds for a variation application, based on diversion of income. Pension contributions can then be compared to the non-resident parent’s personal circumstances, such as their age and income, to determine whether they should be considered excessive.</p><p> </p><p>The Service will always try to ensure that the maintenance calculation accurately reflects the non-resident parent’s ability to pay child maintenance. If pension contributions could be considered to be affecting support given to the child, the Service will investigate and take action if appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 42008 question first answered 08/09/2021 16:41:15 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1352357

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Child Maintenance Service is taking to ensure that (a) effect on children and (b) other relevant factors are considered when making child maintenance payment adjustments relating to non-resident parent increased pension contributions.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	42008
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2021 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service can consider whether pension contributions made by the non-resident parent are reasonable if the parent with care has sufficient grounds for a variation application, based on diversion of income. Pension contributions can then be compared to the non-resident parent’s personal circumstances, such as their age and income, to determine whether they should be considered excessive.</p><p> </p><p>The Service will always try to ensure that the maintenance calculation accurately reflects the non-resident parent’s ability to pay child maintenance. If pension contributions could be considered to be affecting support given to the child, the Service will investigate and take action if appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 42007 question first answered 08/09/2021 16:41:15 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day