In this Act—

• “absent parent”, has the meaning given in section 3(2);

• “adjudication officer” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;

• F2“application for a departure direction” means an application under section 28A;

• “assessable income” has the meaning given in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1;

• “benefit Acts” means the F1Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Social Security Administration Act 1992;

• “Chief Adjudication Officer” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;

• “Chief Child Support Officer” has the meaning given in section 13;

• “child benefit” has the same meaning as in the M1Child Benefit Act 1975;

• “child support appeal tribunal” means a tribunal appointed under section 21;

• “child support maintenance” has the meaning given in section 3(6);

• “child support officer” has the meaning given in section 13;

• F2“current assessment”, in relation to an application for a departure direction, means (subject to any regulations made under paragraph 10 of Schedule 4A) the maintenance assessment with respect to which the application is made;

• “deduction from earnings order” has the meaning given in section 31(2);

• F2“departure direction” has the meaning given in section 28A;

• “disability living allowance” has the same meaning as in the F1benefit Acts;

• “family credit” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;

• “general qualification” shall be construed in accordance with section 71 of the M2Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (qualification for judicial appointments);

• “income support” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;

• “interim maintenance assessment” has the meaning given in section 12;

• “liability order” has the meaning given in section 33(2);

• “maintenance agreement” has the meaning given in section 9(1);

• “maintenance assessment” means an assessment of maintenance made under this Act and, except in prescribed circumstances, includes an interim maintenance assessment;

• “maintenance order” has the meaning given in section 8(11);

• “maintenance requirement” means the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 1;

• “parent”, in relation to any child, means any person who is in law the mother or father of the child;

• F2“parent with care” means a person who is, in relation to a child, both a parent and a person with care.

• “parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in the M3Children Act 1989;

• “parental rights” has the same meaning as in the M4Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986;

• “person with care” has the meaning given in section 3(3);

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

• “qualifying child” has the meaning given in section 3(1);