Part 6Miscellaneous

Child support maintenance

I1136Supporting maintenance agreements

1

In section 9 of the Child Support Act 1991 (maintenance agreements), after subsection (2) there is inserted—

2A

The F1Secretary of State may, with a view to reducing the need for applications under sections 4 and 7—

a

take such steps as F2the Secretary of State considers appropriate to encourage the making and keeping of maintenance agreements, and

b

in particular, before accepting an application under those sections, invite the applicant to consider with the F3Secretary of State whether it is possible to make such an agreement.

2

In Schedule 5 to the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (maintenance calculations: transfer of cases to new rules), in paragraph 3, after sub-paragraph (2) there is inserted—

3

The F4Secretary of State may before accepting an application required by provision under sub-paragraph (2)(b) invite the applicant to consider with the F4Secretary of State whether it is possible to make a maintenance agreement (within the meaning of section 9 of the Child Support Act 1991).