Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's policy is for the collection of child maintenance where a person has been detained in medical care due to their mental health.

Decisions about collection and enforcement action are made on a case by case basis, taking into account the welfare of all parties and using the appropriate methods which have the greatest chance of securing money for children. Where a paying parent is confirmed to be a hospital in-patient or in residential care, the Child Maintenance Service will consider whether it is appropriate to pause the collection of arrears.