Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who had an earnings deduction order for child maintenance subsequently lost their jobs and claimed job seeker's allowance in 2016 -17.

The Department does not readily collate information on the number of people paying child maintenance via a deduction from earnings order who subsequently lost their job and claimed Job Seekers allowance within the year 2016-17. Obtaining the information to answer this question could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.