Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that payments owed to receiving parents are collected in a timely manner.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) works to ensure that maintenance owed to receiving parents is collected as promptly as possible. Where a paying parent does not make a payment in full or on time, the CMS will take action to re-establish compliance and recover outstanding amounts.

The CMS has a range of collection and enforcement powers available, including Deduction from Earnings Orders and deductions from bank accounts. Where necessary, further enforcement action may be taken against paying parents who persistently fail to meet their child maintenance obligations.

The Department regularly reviews operational performance to support the effective collection of child maintenance and to help ensure that receiving parents obtain the financial support for children to which they are entitled.