The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 27th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish the review of calculations of child maintenance.
Baroness Sherlock (Lab, DWP): The Department has been conducting a review of the child maintenance calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s social trends. This process is ongoing and no date for announcing the outcome has yet been set. When it is, any changes will be subject to extensive consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure survivors of domestic abuse are exempt from fees associated with child maintenance.
Baroness Sherlock: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) removed the £20 application fee in February 2024. This has removed any requirement to report domestic abuse. It has also removed one of the affordability barriers for parents who wish to apply to the scheme.
A consultation on proposed reforms to the CMS was published by the previous Government on 8 May 2024. This included:
- removing Direct Pay and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster,
- exploring views on collection fees and the impact of proposals to reduce, but maintain, fees and
- exploring how victims and survivors of domestic abuse can be better supported. This follows the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act receiving royal assent in July 2023.
The consultation was extended by this Government at the end of July and ran until 30 September 2024. We are currently analysing the responses we have received, and the Government will publish a response in due course.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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