Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the effectiveness of arrangements within the Child Maintenance Service whereby HMRC evidence is used to establish CMS payments.

The Department has no current plans to conduct a specific review of the arrangements whereby HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) evidence is used to establish Child Maintenance Service (CMS) payments.

The CMS relies on verified HMRC income information to support accurate and efficient maintenance calculations and reviews cases annually using updated HMRC data. The system is supported by safeguards including mandatory reconsideration and appeal rights, and investigations by the Financial Investigation Unit where appropriate.

We continue to keep the whole child maintenance system under review to ensure it remains fair and effective.