PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Children: Maintenance (12 October 2016)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many officials employed by the Child Maintenance Service are responsible for (a) identifying and (b) supporting victims of (i) domestic and (ii) financial abuse.

Asked by:
Dr Andrew Murrison (Conservative)

During the Child Maintenance Service application process, clients can identify to us that they were subject to domestic violence, and during the process of establishing payment mechanisms we can help with discussing accounts that have no traceable characteristics. These functions are carried out in Applications and New Case teams. However, all caseworkers across both the Child Maintenance Service and Child Support Agency are trained to be sensitive and to take appropriate action, such as signposting to relevant support organisations. As at 30 September 2016, there were over 6500 dedicated caseworkers working across all child maintenance schemes, which excludes team leaders and all managers who would also be able to undertake similar signposting as required.

Answered by:
Caroline Nokes (Conservative)
20 October 2016