In this Act—
“absent parent”, has the meaning given in section 3(2);
“adjudication officer” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;
“assessable income” has the meaning given in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1;
“benefit Acts” means the Social Security Acts 1975 to 1991;
“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;
“deduction from earnings order” has the meaning given in section 31(2);
“disability living allowance” has the same meaning as in the M2Social Security Act 1975;
“family credit” has the same meaning as in the benefit Acts;
“general qualification” shall be construed in accordance with section 71 of the M3Courts 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;
“parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in the M4Children Act 1989;
“parental rights” has the same meaning as in the M5Law 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);