Written questions by Goldsborough.

How many Child Maintenance Service cases were reviewed by the Independent Case Examiner in each of the last ten years.

There are several ways in which complaints escalated to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) can be concluded – resolution, settlement or investigation. This table shows the total volumes of Child Maintenance Service (CMS) cases ICE concluded in each of the last ten operational years, and comprises of cases concluded by resolution, settlement and investigation. CMS2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Total3353703133282783555928071253941

How many new applications have been made to the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last ten years.

The Department publishes quarterly statistics for the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and the latest statistics are currently available to June 2025. Table 1 of the latest National tables includes the information on the total applications received by CMS for each of the last five quarters, from quarter ending June 2024 to quarter ending June 2025. Statistics from August 2016 to March 2024 are available in ‘Table 1’ in the ‘National tables’ of previous releases and the resulting annual data, from August 2016 to June 2025, has been provided in the table below. Annual Applications to the Child Maintenance Service, Great Britain, August 2016 to June 2025

What the average length of time was that staff had been employed in the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested for the average length of time in service is not held at Child Maintenance Service level. It is only available at Department for Work and Pension level.

How many staff working days have been lost to sick leave in the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last 10 years.

The information is not available for the whole period requested. The data is only available from October 2023. This is due to changes in departmental reporting hierarchies.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of Temporary Housing Subsidy rates on local authority budgets.

DWP pays local authorities a Housing Benefit subsidy for temporary accommodation cases but this is subject to limits to incentivise local authorities to find settled accommodation for residents and to ensure good value for money for the taxpayer. Local authorities usually pay the costs of temporary accommodation upfront and then claim back from DWP through the Housing Benefit subsidy. The rate of subsidy is usually based on 90% of the January 2011 Local Housing Allowance rates and maximum subsidy caps of £500 and £375 per week are in place in some high rent areas. DWP collects data on local authority Housing Benefit expenditure and levels of Housing Benefit subsidy paid, including temporary accommodation expenditure in England, Scotland and Wales. Housing Benefit expenditure and subsidy data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We understand that local authorities are subject to many funding pressures which are impacting their budgets. However, any increases to the subsidy rates for temporary accommodation would need to be taken in the context of the government’s missions, goals on housing, and the fiscal position.