Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many paying parents have a nil assessment for child maintenance, including by each reason for a nil assessment.

The information requested on the number of paying parents with a nil assessment, broken down by each reason for that assessment, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

A nil assessment for Child Maintenance applies only in specific circumstances. This includes where the paying parent has very low or no income, is in education or government approved training, is under 16, is receiving certain income related benefits, is in prison, or is in state funded residential care.