Child Support Act 1991

54 Interpretation. E+W+S

[F1 (1)] In this Act—

• “[F2 non-resident parent]”, has the meaning given in section 3(2);

• F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F5 “application for a [F6 variation]” means an application under section 28A [F7 or 28G];]

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “benefit Acts” means the [F9 Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Social Security Administration Act 1992];

• F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F10 “charging order” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Charging Orders Act 1979;]

• “child benefit” has the same meaning as in the M1 Child Benefit Act 1975;

• F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

• F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F10 “curfew order” has the meaning given in section 39H(1);]

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

• [F12 “default maintenance decision” has the meaning given in section 12;]

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F10 “deposit-taker” means a person who, in the course of a business, may lawfully accept deposits in the United Kingdom;]

• “disability living allowance” has the same meaning as in the [F9 benefit Acts];

• F13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F15 “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” has the same meaning as in the Jobseekers Act 1995;]

• [F16 “income-related employment and support allowance” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (employment and support allowance);]

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

• “interim maintenance [F17 decision]” 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);

• [F18 “maintenance calculation” means a calculation of maintenance made under this Act and, except in prescribed circumstances, includes a default maintenance decision and an interim maintenance decision;]

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

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

• [F5 “parent with care” means a person who is, in relation to a child, both a parent and a person with care.]

• [F19 “parental responsibility”, in the application of this Act—

  (a)

  to England and Wales, has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989; and

  (b)

  to Scotland, shall be construed as a reference to “parental responsibilities” within the meaning given by section 1(3) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995;]

• F20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “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);

• [F21 “voluntary payment” has the meaning given in section 28J.]

[F22 (2) The definition of “deposit-taker” in subsection (1) is to be read with—

(a) section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

(b) any relevant order under that section; and

(c) Schedule 2 to that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 54(1) renumbered (1.6.2009) by virtue of Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), s. 62(3), Sch. 7 para. 1(25); S.I. 2009/1314, art. 2(2)(b)(ii)

F2 Words in Act substituted (31.1.2001 for specified purposes, 3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(2) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2000/3354, art. 2(1)(b); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F3 Words in s. 54 repealed (1.6.1999 for specified purposes, 29.11.1999 for specified purposes) by Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14), s. 87(2), Sch. 7 para. 47(b), Sch. 8; S.I. 1999/1510, art. 2(g)(iv); S.I. 1999/3178, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with arts. 2(2), 4)

F4 Words in s. 54 omitted (3.11.2008) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 96

F5 Words in s. 54 inserted (4.9.1995) by Child Support Act 1995 (c. 34), s. 30(4), Sch. 3 para. 16; S.I. 1995/2302, art. 2, Sch. Pt. 1

F6 Word in s. 54 substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(a) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F7 Words in s. 54 inserted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(a) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F8 Words in s. 54 omitted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by virtue of Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(e)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(e), Sch 9 Pt. 1 (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F9 Words in s. 54 substituted (1.7.1992) by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6), s. 4, Sch. 2 para. 114(a)(b)

F10 Words in s. 54(1) inserted (1.6.2009 for specified purposes) by Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), s. 62(3), Sch. 7 para. 1(25)(a); S.I. 2009/1314, art. 2(2)(b)(ii)

F11 Words in s. 54(1) omitted (1.8.2012) by virtue of The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 61

F12 Words in s. 54 inserted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(b) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F13 Words in s. 54 repealed (6.4.2003) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 6; S.I. 2003/962, art. 2(3)(e), Sch. 1

F14 Words in s. 54 repealed (3.11.2008) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 148, Sch. 23 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/2696, art. 5(j) (with art. 3)

F15 Words in s. 54 inserted (7.10.1996) by Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18), s. 41(2), Sch. 2 para. 20(6); S.I. 1996/2208, art. 2(b)

F16 Words in s. 54 inserted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), s. 70(2), Sch. 3 para. 7(7); S.I. 2008/787, art. 2(4)(f)

F17 Word in s. 54 substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(c) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F18 Words in s. 54 substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(d) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F19 Words in s. 54 substituted (1.11.1996) by Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36), s. 105(1)(b), Sch. 4 para. 52(4)(a); S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3(3), Sch. (with arts. 4-7)

F20 Words in s. 54 repealed (1.11.1996) by Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36), s. 105(1)(b), Sch. 4 para. 52(4)(b), Sch. 5; S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3(3), Sch. (with arts. 4-7)

F21 Words in s. 54 inserted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), s. 86(1)(a)(2), Sch. 3 para. 11(20)(f) (with s. 83(6)); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3, Sch.

F22 S. 54(2) inserted (1.6.2009) by Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6), s. 62(3), Sch. 7 para. 1(26); S.I. 2009/1314, art. 2(2)(b)(i)

Marginal Citations

M1 1975 c. 61.