The government has recognised that child maintenance has a vital role to play in tackling child poverty – a key message of our #FixTheCMS campaign. 

Speaking at the parliamentary launch of the campaign, Work and Pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms spoke of the links between child poverty and the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and acknowledged the value of single-named caseworkers for those who use the service. 

A key recommendation of our #FixTheCMS report is for all users of the CMS to have a named caseworker, so we were delighted to hear the minister talk about their value, even though he stopped short of saying the government would take forward the recommendation. 

His comments were in response to powerful speeches from campaigner Rachel and her daughter Abigail, who spoke about the numerous challenges they have experienced with the service, and the severe impact this had on their family. 

Also present were Joining them, Dr Rupa Huq MP – chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Single Parent Families, Sarah Lambert – head of policy and campaigns at Gingerbread and Sarah Pinch – chair of Gingerbread’s board of trustees.  also addressed to the room. They highlighted the findings of the Fix the CMS report and emphasised the need for CMS reform to be included in the government’s forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy. 

Single parents get behind our campaign 

‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to the 213 Gingerbread supporters who of you took action and invited your their MP to the event,’ says Gingerbread’s Sarah Lambert.  ‘Thanks to their invaluable support we were  delighted to welcome over 20 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum who came along to find out more about the campaign and offer their support.  

Following the event, here is what Rachel and Abigail had to say: 

“Parliamentary events are so worthwhile, it makes all the campaigning worthwhile, knowing that my voice is being heard and is making a difference for lots of single-parent families. The Child Maintenance Service must be reformed and if the government are serious about tackling child poverty, then it has to start with the Child Maintenance Service!” – Rachel 

 

“As a child that has only ever known what it’s like to be a part of a single-parent family, I’m glad I’m able to use my voice to help campaign for change” – Abigail 

What does this mean and what’s next? 

We welcome the minister’s comments on single-named caseworkers and the role of the CMS in tackling child poverty. These remarks are a positive sign, and they align with the recommendations included in our report. However, we now need to see action. 

Gingerbread is clear that the government cannot tackle child poverty without reform of the CMS. Our research shows that single parents want as a priority: 

• Dedicated named caseworkers so that parents don’t have to keep retelling their story, and to ensure issues are understood and followed up on. 

• A means to contact the service digitally to reduce the stress of long waiting times on the phone and an increase in confidence that the right things were being communicated both ways. 

• Actions to step up on enforcement, to better assess income and to close loopholes that allow non-resident parents to avoid payments. 

• A transformation in training for CMS staff in domestic abuse and for the service to become trauma-informed. 

Gingerbread will continue to push to secure these changes. We’re  working to secure a Westminster Hall debate on the CMS in early March, and we will share details on this once confirmed. We are also awaiting the government’s response to the Child Maintenance: Improving the collection and transfer of payments consultation, which proposed significant changes to the service. 

What you can do to support us: 

• Please email your MP asking them to speak up and support by using parliamentary mechanisms like tabling questions, speaking in debates and writing a letter to the minister.  

• If you’ve already emailed your MP, thank you! Your support is invaluable. Please encourage your network to email their MP too – the more people, the better. 
• Make sure you’re signed up to our email list to receive updates and ways to get involved, as well as following us on social media.