The basic principles

I17 Right of child in Scotland to apply for F3calculation.

1

A qualifying child who has attained the age of 12 years and who is habitually resident in Scotland may apply to the F16Secretary of State for a F18maintenance calculation to be made with respect to him if—

a

no such application has been made by a person who is, with respect to that child, a person with care or F2a non-resident parent; F1...

F1b

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

An application made under subsection (1) shall authorise the F16Secretary of State to make a F18maintenance calculation with respect to any other children of the F2non-resident parent who are qualifying children in the care of the same person as the child making the application.

3

Where a F18maintenance calculation has been made in response to an application under this section the F7Secretary of State may, if the F13person with care or the child concerned applies to F7the Secretary of State under this subsection, arrange for—

a

the collection of the child support maintenance payable in accordance with the F3calculation;

b

the enforcement of the obligation to pay child support maintenance in accordance with the F3calculation.

F123A

The F19Secretary of State may only make arrangements under subsection (3)(a) if—

a

the non-resident parent agrees to the arrangements, or

b

the F19Secretary of State is satisfied that without the arrangements child support maintenance is unlikely to be paid in accordance with the calculation.

4

Where an application under subsection (3) for the enforcement of the obligation mentioned in subsection (3)(b) authorises the F4Secretary of State to take steps to enforce that obligation whenever F4the Secretary of State considers it necessary to do so, the F4Secretary of State may act accordingly.

5

Where a child has asked the F6Secretary of State to proceed under this section, the person with care of the child, the F2non-resident parent and the child concerned shall, so far as they reasonably can, comply with such regulations as may be made by the Secretary of State with a view to the F6Secretary of StateF15... being provided with the information which is required to enable—

a

the F2non-resident parent to be traced (where that is necessary);

b

the amount of child support maintenance payable by the F2non-resident parent to be assessed; and

c

that amount to be recovered from the F2non-resident parent.

6

The child who has made the application (but not the person having care of him) may at any time request the F11Secretary of State to cease acting under this section.

7

It shall be the duty of the F11Secretary of State to comply with any request made under subsection (6) (but subject to any regulations made under subsection (9)).

8

The obligation to provide information which is imposed by subsection (5)—

a

shall not apply in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State; and

b

may, in such circumstances as may be so prescribed, be waived by the F8Secretary of State.

9

The Secretary of State may by regulations make such incidental, supplemental or transitional provision as he thinks appropriate with respect to cases in which he is requested to cease to act under this section.

C1F510

No application may be made at any time under this section by a qualifying child if

F17a

there is in force a written maintenance agreement made before 5th April 1993, or a maintenance order F14made before a prescribed date, in respect of that child and the person who is, at that time, the F2non-resident parentF10or

b

a maintenance order made on or after the date prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (a) is in force in respect of them, but has been so for less than the period of one year beginning with the date on which it was madeF9; or

c

a maintenance agreement—

i

made on or after the date prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (a); and

ii

registered for execution in the Books of Council and Session or the sheriff court books,

is in force in respect of them, but has been so for less than the period of one year beginning with the date on which it was made.