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Written question asked by Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 5 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. It was answered by Andrew Western (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Child Maintenance Service: Information Sharing

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to enable data sharing between Government departments and the Child Maintenance Service for the purposes of locating a non-resident parent.

Answer

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) have access to a wide range of information providers including HM Revenue and Customs, local authorities and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, which will help establish the correct last known or notified address of a parent.

The Child Support Information Regulations 2008 provides a legal requirement for certain individuals and bodies to provide information needed to determine child maintenance applications and decisions. Please see link with further information on certain individuals and bodies: The Child Support Information Regulations 2008.

Any person requested to provide information must provide the information or evidence if it is in their possession or if they can reasonably be expected to obtain it. The information requested must be provided to the CMS as soon is reasonably practicable.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
7327
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Government Parents Separation Child Maintenance Service Information sharing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk