Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had their driving license suspended for failure to pay child maintenance in each of the last five years.

• From January to September 2024, the courts issued 1 immediate and 5 suspended disqualifications for driving.

• From January to December 2023, the courts issued 4 suspended disqualifications for driving.

• From January to December 2022, the courts issued 1 immediate and 8 suspended disqualifications for driving.

• From January to December 2021, the courts issued 1 immediate and 4 suspended disqualifications for driving.

• From January to December 2020, the courts issued 2 suspended disqualifications for driving.

Current legislation for driving license and passport removal requires repayment of the debt within six months, whereas legislation covering commitment to prison allows the courts to order the paying parent to repay debt in instalments over a two-year period. This longer period is generally more appropriate, so the commitment to prison power is used more often.

It should also be noted that these are actions of last resort and are intended to have a deterrent effect. The low number of sentences given may not reflect the number of people persuaded to pay by the prospect of these powers being used.