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Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill

The noble Lord is quite right; I accept that point. I suggest, however, that what would make the system more acceptable for those who use it would be better assessment arrangements that did not rely upon income details from people who did not want to engage with the commission and sought to avoid their responsibilities—so reliance on HMRC data will help the assessment process. The ability to update those assessments on an annual basis is a change that people will recognise makes assessments more current. The increase in the benefit disregard, where both non-residents and parents with care will readily recognise the opportunity for more money being available to children without the state clawing it back, is another strengthened enforcement power so that, when an assessment is in place, parents with care can have the confidence that it will be properly enforced and collected. It is the collection arrangements that I think will build confidence in the new system. That sits alongside the encouragement for people to enter voluntary arrangements, underpinned by an information and support service.