Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to increase the flat rate of child maintenance payments in light of the recent increases in the cost of living.

There are no current plans to increase the flat rate of child maintenance payments. The child maintenance calculation was designed to be fair for the paying parent, while ensuring they contribute a significant proportion of their income to support their children.

A banding system ensures that the very lowest earners pay a flat rate of £7 per week, and those with no income pay nothing. Those that can afford to make a bigger contribution do so at a rate that reflects what they earn.