Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Child Maintenance Service does not deduct excessive amounts from non-resident parents.

When negotiating arrears agreements and arrangements, CMS must consider all the circumstances of the non-resident parent and the case. The main aim is to get on-going maintenance payments flowing and to recover arrears as quickly and reliably as possible. The most severe measures are restricted to those parents who wilfully refuse or culpably neglect to pay their maintenance.