I rise as Chairperson of the Committee for Communities to speak in support of the Child Support Enforcement Bill and to affirm our commitment to conducting thorough and effective scrutiny during the Committee Stage.

The Committee received a detailed briefing on the Bill on 6 June 2024 from departmental officials. The briefing provided Committee members with insights into the Bill's objectives, provisions and anticipated impacts. The Bill is intended to align child support enforcement mechanisms here with those already established in England, Scotland and Wales under the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023. It was explained to the Committee that the alignment would ensure parity and improve the efficiency of the Child Maintenance Service in securing maintenance for qualifying children. Rather than repeat the details of the clauses of the Bill, which the Minister has outlined, it is clear from the briefing by officials that the Bill's intent is to improve the outcomes and life chances for the affected children by ensuring that child maintenance payments are paid promptly and effectively. It will hopefully help to address child poverty in some part by making it easier and quicker to enforce maintenance orders, ensuring that financial support reaches children in need without undue delay.

The Committee heard that the new system should also allow for more direct interaction between CMS and non-resident parents, minimising the delays associated with court processes and facilitating quicker resolutions. That streamlined process is also expected to increase compliance from non-resident parents. During the briefing, the Committee underlined to officials the importance of continuous engagement with stakeholders, including the Courts and Tribunals Service and the Department of Justice to ensure the Bill's successful implementation. That collaboration will be important for any future secondary legislation and for addressing concerns related to appeals processes and other operational queries.

Members also sought clarification of how the new administrative orders would reduce the processing time and whether they would have the same legal standing as court orders. The departmental officials confirmed that the new orders would, indeed, have equivalent legal status.

Concerns were raised about parents with custody who may have been victims of domestic violence and whether collection arrangements would ensure adequate protection where necessary. The Department assured the Committee that processes are in place to protect parents where needed, including the ability to halt enforcement actions, if necessary, to ensure their safety.

The Committee also queried the potential resource pressures and the need for staff training. The Department indicated to us that, due to the small number of cases that reach this level, significant resource implications were not anticipated and training would be coordinated with the Department for Work and Pensions.

The Child Support Enforcement Bill represents a positive step in ensuring that child maintenance arrears are collected more efficiently and effectively. I am therefore content, as Chairperson of the Committee for Communities, to confirm that the Committee supports the principles of the Bill and looks forward to considering it in further detail during the Committee Stage.