The Government has laid an order in Parliament to bring the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) back under direct Ministerial control.

Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller said:

“The Government is clear about how important strong family relationships are for children. All children have the right to financial support from both parents, which is why we are reforming the child maintenance service to put children at its heart.

"Bringing the system under direct control of Ministers will help that process."

The move follows a consultation conducted last year by the Government. The matter will be debated in both Houses of Parliament, and assuming it receives Parliamentary approval, CMEC will be abolished, and its current operational units will become a business unit of the Department  for Work and Pensions

Parents will be supported and helped to make their own, family-based child maintenance arrangements, although a new, streamlined and more efficient statutory child maintenance service will be introduced for those who need it.