Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's Response to the Work and Pension Committee’s Fourteenth Report of Session 2016–17, Child Maintenance: Government Response to the House of Commons, HC 354, how many employees within the Child Maintenance Service have received specialist domestic abuse training.

During the Child Maintenance application process, clients can identify to us that they were subject to domestic violence. Whilst we do not specifically advise clients on domestic violence, caseworkers across both Child Maintenance Service and Child Support Agency are trained to signpost clients to relevant organisations where appropriate. In addition, more detailed training will be rolled out beginning 5^th March to over 4000 CMS caseworkers, which has been designed, working with partner organisations, to help caseworkers handle calls sensitively, understand and recognise domestic abuse, and respond appropriately to clients who are victims of domestic abuse.