Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Child Maintenance Service requiring victims of domestic violence to give their bank details to former partners on the victims' safety and peace of mind; and if he will make a statement.

The Child Maintenance Service understands how important it is to ensure that the system works for everyone, including victims of domestic violence and abuse. But we do not believe that a history of domestic violence and abuse has to be a barrier to using the Child Maintenance direct pay service.

When parents have a direct pay arrangement, caseworkers can act as an intermediary and pass information between parents, including bank details, so that the parents do not need to have any contact with each other.

They will also provide information about how to set up a bank account with a centralised sort code, which means that it gives no indication of the possible location of the account holder. Parents can also choose to have the money paid into someone else’s account.