Research like the Government’s 2022 separated families survey helps form a useful evidence base for effective policy formation. Research on why parents do not have maintenance arrangements but want one would be valuable. We recommend that the Government conduct further research on the reasons parents who want maintenance arrangements do not have one to allow for effective, evidence-based policy interventions, so as to help improve the operation of the child maintenance system and decrease pov...

Research like the Government’s 2022 separated families survey helps form a useful evidence base for effective policy formation. Research on why parents do not have maintenance arrangements but want one would be valuable. We recommend that the Government conduct further research on the reasons parents who want maintenance arrangements do not have one to allow for effective, evidence-based policy interventions, so as to help improve the operation of the child maintenance system and decrease poverty. The Government should also set out how it plans to reach out proactively to and support those families to make arrangements. (Paragraph 65) The per Type: recommendation | Number: 14 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: The Department continues to monitor the wider separated families population, the proportions with statutory and non-statutory arrangements and the amount of child maintenance transferred. Work is ongoing through various initiatives to increase awareness