Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has considered the potential merits of routinely publishing data relating to CMS errors, complaints, system failures, and maladministration; and what assessment he has made of the impact this has on families.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department publishes quarterly CMS complaints statistics, including the number of complaints received and closed, the proportion upheld or partially upheld, and cases considered by the Independent Case Examiner DWP Complaints Statistics - GOV.UK. . Independent scrutiny is also provided through the Independent Case Examiner's annual reports, which set out findings on maladministration and systemic issues identified through complaints.
Additional statistical data is also published in the Child Maintenance Client Funds Accounts Child maintenance: client funds accounts - GOV.UK.
The Department systematically carries out impact assessments on user groups, including within the CMS. It recognises that service issues may affect customers and uses complaints, feedback and operational performance information to identify issues and improve service delivery.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has considered the potential merits of an independent review of the Child Maintenance Service, including its systems, governance and complaints process.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is subject to regular independent scrutiny and review.
The CMS has recently been examined by a range of independent bodies, including the National Audit Office, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and Parliamentary Committees. The Department also commissioned an independent review by Dr Samantha Callan into the CMS's support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and has taken forward a number of improvements in response to the review's recommendations.
The Government welcomes constructive challenge and recommendations from Parliament, independent reviewers, and oversight bodies, and carefully considers their findings when improving the service. At present, the Government has no plans to commission a further independent review of the CMS.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has carried out an impact assessment on the recruitment and retention policy on the operational capabilities of the Coastguard Rescue Service.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
On 16 July, after hearing the views of Coastguard Rescue Officers, trade unions and members of Parliament, it was confirmed that plans to move to the expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead. Response has remained unchanged in the meantime. The focus of DfT and MCA remains to maintain a robust, effective search and rescue response along the UK coastline.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has considered the potential merits of introducing a paid or part-time model for the Coastguard Rescue Service.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport continues to work with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to consider in depth the options for the future of the Coastguard Rescue Service. Our priority is to ensure the service remains safe, effective and sustainable in the long term. Coastguard Rescue Officers make an extraordinary contribution across the United Kingdom, and this Government is incredibly grateful to them for their invaluable public service.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence was used to support the revised model for the Coastguard Rescue Service.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A range of factors were considered to reach a professional judgement which at the time was considered the most appropriate option to preserve operational effectiveness.
Since then, my department has undertaken further work to scrutinise the information that was provided. Having done so, I confirmed on 16 July that plans to move to an expenses-only volunteer model in September would no longer go ahead, pausing implementation to consider the right arrangements for Coastguard Rescue Officers.
Our priority is to ensure the service remains safe, effective and sustainable in the long term. Coastguard Rescue Officers make an extraordinary contribution across the United Kingdom, and this Government is incredibly grateful to them for their invaluable public service.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance her Department provides to (a) sole traders and (b) volunteer-run online services on the personal financial and legal liability they may face under the Online Safety Act 2023; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure enforcement against low-risk small services is proportionate.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Ofcom is providing support to small service providers to help them understand and comply with their responsibilities under the Online Safety Act.
In a July 2025 letter Ofcom’s CEO noted responsibility for regulating a wide range of services, including voluntary groups and individuals. The letter noted that Ofcom will take enforcement action only where it is proportionate and appropriate and will focus on cases where risk and impact of harm is highest. Ofcom has since set out its priorities for action in 2026-27.