This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Make non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence

The Government should make non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence to help ensure single parents receive up to date child maintenance. Payments should be regular and fair.

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Parents who do not pay child maintenance should face criminal sanctions, including imprisonment. The system has failed too many parents and children for many years. Too many families do not receive the maintenance due, and no or insufficient action is taken to enforce child maintenance debts. The system has failed over and over & something has to be done about this once and for all.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

356 signatures

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Child Maintenance Service debated by MPs

Two debates were held recently on the Child Maintenance Service in the House of Commons.

  • On Tuesday 17 May, MPs took part in an adjournment debate on ‘Child maintenance arrears’, led by Dr Kieran Mullan MP
  • On Thursday 19 May, MPs took part in a backbench business debate on ‘Reforming the Child Maintenance Service’, led by Marion Fellows MP

Watch the debates, read transcripts of what was said in the debates, and access other relevant material: https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/cet-cms-may-2022/index.html?utm_campaign=0522-cet-cmspromo-petitioners&utm_medium=email&utm_source=petcom

What are adjournment debates?

Any backbench MP can apply to hold an adjournment debate on any subject which the Government are responsible for, providing it does not call for a new law (or changes to existing law). MPs from all parties can take part, and a Government minister must respond in the debate.

Adjournment debates take place at the end of each sitting day in the main House of Commons Chamber and usually last for 30 minutes.

They are held on the motion ‘that the House do now adjourn’. In other words, once the adjournment debate has finished, the House will close for the day.

What are backbench business debates?

Backbench business debates give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the main House of Commons Chamber or Westminster Hall, the second chamber of the House of Commons.

MPs can make a request for a debate to the Backbench Business Committee, who hears and decides which debates to schedule.

Backbench debates can either be general debates (which do not end in a vote) or be on a substantive motion (which calls for an action and can end in a vote). The debate on reforming the Child Maintenance Service was a general debate.

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