We ask the Government to strengthen CMS powers, improve data sharing with HMRC and Companies House, close loopholes for self-employed parents and company directors, speed up arrears enforcement, and introduce tougher penalties for persistent non-payment.

We believe the current levels of penalties and enforcement action are insufficient. It can take years to get a child maintenance payment out of a parent. We are concerned that non paying parents are taken at their word - if they say they cannot afford arrears nothing is done about this. We feel there needs to be serious reform in this space including serious penalties.