Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 49935, what arrangements he has put in place to assess the effect on the children concerned of the revised provisions in the 2012 scheme for varying child support payments following changes in income of the paying parent.

Reported changes in income, where the new income level differs from the level previously being used by at least 25%, may result in a change in the amount of child maintenance due. Applying a tolerance of 25% helps to ensure some stability of financial arrangements for both receiving parents and paying parents across the course of the year.

We do not make a direct assessment of the effect of a change of income on the child in the case, however, it is expected that paying parents will continue to meet their maintenance liability after any such change, ensuring payment continuity. Where this does not happen, the Child Maintenance Service will pursue the paying parent for any arrears accrued, taking the appropriate enforcement action.