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Closed Introduce an independent regulator of the Child Maintenance Service

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The Child Maintenance Service ensures that children are provided for financially by a non-resident parent, where a family-based arrangement cannot be reached by the parents.

Using a range of approaches, some of which result in a 20% surcharge to the NRP, the CMS is able to act without oversight.

The 20% surcharge applied by CMS and the creating of arrears resulting from miscalculations by the CMS has a devastating impact on NRPs, many of whom are struggling to maintain a relationship with their children. This causes additional hardship and contributes, directly or otherwise, to 1,000 suicides a year.

The CMS has little accountability for its actions or the behaviour of its employees and should be subject to independent regulation to protect users of the service.

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  • Petition closed

  • Related activity

    Share your experiences of the Child Maintenance Service

    On Thursday 24 June, Lord Farmer will lead a debate on Child Maintenance Service reform in the House of Lords.

    To inform the debate, Lord Farmer wants to hear about your experiences of the Child Maintenance Service. He may quote your contribution directly during his debate, so please don’t share anything you wouldn’t want to be made public.

    Find out more and share your experiences with Lord Farmer here: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/child-maintenance-service-/index.html

    Videos of the debate, which is known as a Question for Short Debate (QSD), the transcript and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage.

    The deadline for contributions is 12noon on Wednesday 23 June.

    Please note: this debate is separate from any work the Petitions Committee may do on this petition. For more information on how petitions work, visit: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/sign-a-petition/e-petitions/

    What is a Question for Short Debate?

    Four short debates ('Questions for Short Debate') take place on Thursday every five weeks in Grand Committee of the House of Lords, away from the main Chamber. These debates are an opportunity for members of the House of Lords to discuss important current issues and draw the Government’s attention to concerns. A Government Minister or spokesperson responds at the end to the issues raised in the debate.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 30 September 2021.