Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to prevent the Child Maintenance Service being used as a method of coercive control in previously abusive relationships.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to ensuring victims and survivors of abuse get the help and support they need to use the CMS safely.

In order to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse, all CMS caseworkers receive extensive training, which is regularly reviewed, and follow a well-managed process with clear steps to support and recognise domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour.

The CMS has access to a list of resources which helps caseworkers provide signposting to supporting organisations, and a Domestic Abuse plan which includes clear steps to follow in order to support customers who are experiencing abuse.

CMS domestic abuse training has been reviewed to ensure it reflects the Home Office’s updated statutory guidance on coercive and controlling behaviour, published in April 2023, to ensure CMS staff are equipped to recognise this form of domestic abuse and signpost parents appropriately.

We have committed to reforming the CMS by removing Direct Pay and moving all cases to a single service. As well as improving compliance, this will prevent unwanted contact between parents and remove an opportunity for perpetrators of economic control and coercion to use those behaviours in the context of the CMS.