DWP Select Committee Live Broadcast - Subject Tax Credits

DWP Select Committee

Since 2012, significant changes to the statutory system of child maintenance have been introduced. These include a new statutory body, the Child Maintenance Service, charges for using the new Service and a new means to calculate the maintenance liability of the paying parent. The overall aim has been to deter separated parents from using the Service and encourage them to make their own arrangements for child maintenance. The Child Maintenance Service replaced the Child Support Agency which was abolished following a series of controversies including accumulating £3.8 billion arrears in unpaid child support.

Evidence received so far suggests that the bulk of this will never be collected.

The Committee is opening this short inquiry with evidence in private from affected parents (an anonymised transcript of this session will be published afterwards) and in public from parents’ advocacy groups:

On Wednesday 16 November 2016 at 10.15am in the Wilson Room, Portcullis House:  

Janet Allbeson, Senior Policy Advisor, Gingerbread

Michael Lewkowicz, Business Manager, Families Need Fathers

James Pirrie, Board Member, Resolution and Director, Family Law in Partnership

The inquiry will conclude with evidence from the responsible Minister, Caroline Noakes. Date TBC.