Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amend the legislation relating to the calculation of child maintenance so that such calculations are based on a parent's gross salary, after tax and National Insurance deductions but before the deduction of pensions contributions.

Our statutory child maintenance scheme calculates payments simply and efficiently, usually based on the paying parent’s gross taxable income. This information is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs for the latest available tax year.

We continue to review the calculation but have no plans to change it at this time.