Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve response rates and reduce communication delays from the Child Maintenance Service.

The Department is delivering the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) Modernisation Programme to improve customer access, efficiency and transparency. This includes integrated online application services, the My Child Maintenance Case (MCMC) service, which provides customers with online access to case information and payment schedules, allows changes to be reported at times convenient to the customer and Customer Connect, which enables secure online communication between parents and caseworkers. Telephone and assisted digital support remain available for customers who need additional assistance.

The programme has also introduced improved digital communications, enhanced data sharing and automation to support faster maintenance calculations and case progression, and predictive analytics to help identify cases at risk of non-compliance. This enables earlier intervention, allowing cases to be reviewed more quickly and appropriate action taken to support ongoing compliance. Through these improvements, the Department is working to provide a more efficient, responsive and accessible service for customers.