Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the provision of adequate training on the variations system for Child Maintenance Options staff to advise members of the public.

Child Maintenance Options provide impartial information to support parents in making the most appropriate maintenance arrangement for their circumstances.

Child Maintenance Options agents complete a comprehensive training programme and have supporting guidance available to ensure they provide complete and unbiased information to customers, including information about how a child maintenance calculation is worked out and what information is taken into account.

Child Maintenance Service caseworkers who take applications to the statutory scheme are trained on the detail of the variations system so, in cases where a declaration is made, the variation can be applied appropriately.

As part of the Compliance and Arrears Strategy the department is reviewing its approach to variations. Appropriate additional training and guidance will be considered as a result.