This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Make non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence

I strongly believe the existing legislation around child maintenance payments is failing thousands of children. The legislation needs to create real penalties for non-payment, by making refusal to pay child maintenance a criminal offence.

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My personal experience has been that current mechanisms to ensure child maintenance is paid are inadequate to extract payment from a parent who refuses to prioritise the wellbeing of their own children.

Non-payment of child maintenance is a particular issue in cases of domestic abuse, where a parent may be unable to escape abuse and poverty if child maintenance is not paid.
The consequences for failing to pay child maintenance need to be stringent. Making non-payment of child maintenance a criminal offence would be a start.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

1,467 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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