Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the joint briefing by Gingerbread, Surviving Economic Abuse, and Women’s Aid, “Maintenance is used as a weapon all of the time”: Domestic Abuse and the Child Maintenance Service, published on 22 April; and what steps they are taking to improve interdepartmental information sharing to verify the income of paying parents within the Child Maintenance Service.

In order to support victims/survivors of domestic abuse, all Child Maintenance Service (CMS) caseworkers receive extensive training and follow a well-managed process with clear steps to support and recognise domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour.

The CMS is strengthening support for victims/survivors, for example by making it easier for parents to switch to the Collect and Pay service and being clearer in its communication about what support is available for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and how to access it.

The government intends to remove Direct Pay. Doing so will go further in supporting victims/survivors, and we will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The CMS maintains the accuracy of child maintenance calculations by using verified income information from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and benefit systems.

Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly from HMRC for the latest tax year available. This allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately. Any income subject to income tax including bonuses and overtime received by an employed paying parent, is included within their gross weekly income when calculating a child maintenance liability.