Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2018 to Question 165065 Children: Maintenance and with reference to page 27 of his Department's paper How We Work Out Child Maintenance: A Step-by-Step Guide, for what reason a parent with 50-50 shared care of their child is require to pay child maintenance.

In cases where exactly equal care is provided by both parents neither parent is required to pay maintenance. If shared care is provided for at least 175 nights in the year on average, maintenance is reduced by one half to reflect the care contribution made by the Paying Parent.
Maintenance is still due, but at a reduced level because it is expected that the principal provider of care would still bear a greater proportion of the associated costs of day to day care of the child.