CHILD MAINTENANCE SCHEME

That this House is deeply concerned about changes to the Child Maintenance scheme; notes that the charging scheme will deter lower income families from claiming and will increase child poverty; recognises that the four per cent now deducted by the Government from the final amount that goes to the child sees the Exchequer profiting at the expense of the child; further notes that the contractor has been unable to cope with call volumes and regrets that the Child Maintenance Options service has been privatised; and urges the Government to bring this work back in-house, to be run by experienced Department for Work and Pensions staff.