VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Child Maintenance Service: Information Sharing

Asked by Mr Lee DillonLiberal DemocratDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 18 June 2026UIN 7327

The 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.

Answered by Andrew Western

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.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim