Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is the Government's policy to encourage parents to use the Child Maintenance Services collect and pay service.
The principal aim of the child maintenance reforms is to encourage parents to work together to set up their maintenance arrangement. The free Child Maintenance Options Service provides help and support to parents to set up a collaborative arrangement either through a family based arrangement, or on the statutory scheme using Direct Pay.
For those parents who are unable to work together, or do not meet their maintenance obligations, the Collect and Pay service is available.