Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the Child Maintenance Service only reviews of a person's payments when their income changes by 25% or more; and what assessment has she made of the effect of that policy on people whose decrease in salary does not meet the 25% threshold.

The Child Maintenance Service uses annually updated income information provided by HMRC to assess maintenance liabilities. The aim is that a liability, once created, stays in force for a year excepting significant income changes of 25% or more. This provides certainty and stability for both parents to allow them to budget effectively to the benefit of their children; and removes the need for paying parents to keep the Service updated of every change to their income. We continue to monitor the impact of the reformed child maintenance scheme.