Members’ Business: Child Maintenance, Protecting Children and Families in Scotland

Steven Bonnar S7M-00974 That the Parliament recognises what it considers to be the significant impact that failures within the UK Child Maintenance Service can have on children and families in Scotland; notes the concerns highlighted by the recent BBC Panorama investigation into the operation of the service; acknowledges the experiences of Scottish families who are struggling to secure maintenance payments to which their children are entitled, including those in the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency; notes the belief that children in Scotland should not bear the consequences of failures within a reserved UK system; recognises the Scottish Government's commitment to supporting children and families within its devolved responsibilities, and notes the calls for continued engagement between the Scottish and UK governments to ensure that the experiences and voices of Scottish families are properly reflected in the reform of the Child Maintenance Service and that future reforms better protect children and families across Scotland. Further details available for S7M-00974