Letter dated 01/07/2026 from Baroness Sherlock to Baroness Morris of Yardley regarding points raised in the debate on the Public Services Committee report 'Reforming the Child Maintenance Service': communications, enforcement and compliance, determining child maintenance liability. 5p.

Letter dated 01/07/2026 from Baroness Sherlock to Baroness Morris of Yardley regarding points raised in the debate on the Public Services Committee report 'Reforming the Child Maintenance Service': communications, enforcement and compliance, determining child maintenance liability. 5p.

Lords motion to take note of the third report of the Public Services Committee on Reforming the Child Maintenance Service (HL 181 2024-26). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the third report of the Public Services Committee on Reforming the Child Maintenance Service (HL 181 2024-26). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I am very pleased to speak to the report from the Public Services Committee, Reforming the Child Maintenance Service. In doing so, I thank everybody whose work has helped us to produce it. First and foremost, I thank those who gave us evidence, either in person in the...

My Lords, I am very pleased to speak to the report from the Public Services Committee, Reforming the Child Maintenance Service. In doing so, I thank everybody whose work has helped us to produce it. First and foremost, I thank those who gave us evidence, either in person in the...

My Lords, it was a pleasure to be on the committee formulating this report. We were led ably by our chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, and it was a pleasure to work with the other members of the committee. I should pay tribute to my noble friend...

My Lords, it was a pleasure to be on the committee formulating this report. We were led ably by our chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, and it was a pleasure to work with the other members of the committee. I should pay tribute to my noble friend...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, for her leadership in what was an important and complex inquiry. I also thank her for what she said just now, which I found a forensic analysis of the operation of the Child Maintenance Service. I thank all...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, for her leadership in what was an important and complex inquiry. I also thank her for what she said just now, which I found a forensic analysis of the operation of the Child Maintenance Service. I thank all...

My Lords, it is a heartrending statistic that 4 million of the UK’s 14 million children live in separated families. That is a higher proportion than in many European countries. The drawbacks of that situation are well known. Children from one-parent families show lower average educational attainment, reduced social mobility...

My Lords, it is a heartrending statistic that 4 million of the UK’s 14 million children live in separated families. That is a higher proportion than in many European countries. The drawbacks of that situation are well known. Children from one-parent families show lower average educational attainment, reduced social mobility...

My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, her committee and its support team for this report, which covered much ground and recommended far-reaching reforms that stand a good chance of improving outcomes. They address long-running problems with the service and its precursors.

To declare my interests,...

My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Yardley, her committee and its support team for this report, which covered much ground and recommended far-reaching reforms that stand a good chance of improving outcomes. They address long-running problems with the service and its precursors.

To declare my interests,...

My Lords, I wish to speak about the Public Services Committee’s report, Reforming the Child Maintenance Service. This was the first Select

Committee of which I have been a part since I joined the House. I have to say, in the end, I came away frustrated: frustrated for the children...

My Lords, I wish to speak about the Public Services Committee’s report, Reforming the Child Maintenance Service. This was the first Select

Committee of which I have been a part since I joined the House. I have to say, in the end, I came away frustrated: frustrated for the children...

My Lords, I first declare an interest, in that I was a member of the Public Services Committee. I loved being on that committee—and you will not hear that about many committees, I can tell you—and found it to be a really stimulating experience, so I applaud the chairmanship of...

My Lords, I first declare an interest, in that I was a member of the Public Services Committee. I loved being on that committee—and you will not hear that about many committees, I can tell you—and found it to be a really stimulating experience, so I applaud the chairmanship of...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken and to the Public Services Committee, especially the former chair, my noble friend Lady Morris of Yardley, for her serious work on this. I am also grateful for the detailed and constructive report and express my thanks to...

My Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken and to the Public Services Committee, especially the former chair, my noble friend Lady Morris of Yardley, for her serious work on this. I am also grateful for the detailed and constructive report and express my thanks to...

My Lords, in responding briefly to the debate, I would first like to thank everybody who contributed. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in this Room today. We made the same point about wishing to reform the system and make it better for children and parents. With that...

My Lords, in responding briefly to the debate, I would first like to thank everybody who contributed. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in this Room today. We made the same point about wishing to reform the system and make it better for children and parents. With that...

Information on what action the Child Maintenance Service can take and the powers it has to collect unpaid maintenance

Information on what action the Child Maintenance Service can take and the powers it has to collect unpaid maintenance

I. Child Maintenance: Accelerating enforcement. Government response to the consultation. 18p. II. Letter dated 01/03/2024 from Viscount Younger of Leckie to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House Libraries. 1p.

I. Child Maintenance: Accelerating enforcement. Government response to the consultation. 18p. II. Letter dated 01/03/2024 from Viscount Younger of Leckie to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House Libraries. 1p.

Child Maintenance: Accelerating enforcement. Public consultation. 10p.

Child Maintenance: Accelerating enforcement. Public consultation. 10p.

Moved by

Baroness Pidding

Moved by

Baroness Pidding

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Redfern, I have a few brief comments to make. I express my sincere gratitude to my noble friend for her stewardship of the Bill in this House. She has been struck down by that ghastly virus and cannot be with us...

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Redfern, I have a few brief comments to make. I express my sincere gratitude to my noble friend for her stewardship of the Bill in this House. She has been struck down by that ghastly virus and cannot be with us...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Redfern, for piloting the Bill through this House and, along with the rest of the House, wish her a speedy recovery. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pidding, for standing in for her today so crisply and effectively. Thanks are due...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Redfern, for piloting the Bill through this House and, along with the rest of the House, wish her a speedy recovery. I also thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pidding, for standing in for her today so crisply and effectively. Thanks are due...

My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lady Pidding, speaking on behalf of the main sponsor of the Bill, my noble friend Lady Redfern, on ensuring that the Bill has reached its final stages. I wish my noble friend Lady Redfern a speedy recovery.

As mentioned at Second Reading, the Bill...

My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lady Pidding, speaking on behalf of the main sponsor of the Bill, my noble friend Lady Redfern, on ensuring that the Bill has reached its final stages. I wish my noble friend Lady Redfern a speedy recovery.

As mentioned at Second Reading, the Bill...

Lords third reading. Bill passed.

Lords third reading. Bill passed.

My Lords, I am pleased to introduce the Child Support (Enforcement) Bill to this place. After gathering significant cross-party support in the other place—it was passed without Division—I am hoping that noble Lords will continue this and support these important measures. I am sure that, like me, everyone here recognises...

My Lords, I am pleased to introduce the Child Support (Enforcement) Bill to this place. After gathering significant cross-party support in the other place—it was passed without Division—I am hoping that noble Lords will continue this and support these important measures. I am sure that, like me, everyone here recognises...