Part 6Miscellaneous

Child support maintenance

137Collection of child support maintenance

(1)

The Child Support Act 1991 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 4 (child support maintenance)—

(a)

in subsection (2), the words from “or“ to “made” are repealed;

(b)

after subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A)

The F1Secretary of State may only make arrangements under subsection (2)(a) if—

(a)

the non-resident parent agrees to the arrangements, or

(b)

the F1Secretary of State is satisfied that without the arrangements child support maintenance is unlikely to be paid in accordance with the calculation.”

(3)

In section 7 (right of child in Scotland to apply for calculation)—

(a)

in subsection (3), for the words from “person with care” to “made or” there is substituted “ person with care or ”;

(b)

after subsection (3) there is inserted—

“(3A)

The F2Secretary of State may only make arrangements under subsection (3)(a) if—

(a)

the non-resident parent agrees to the arrangements, or

(b)

the F2Secretary of State is satisfied that without the arrangements child support maintenance is unlikely to be paid in accordance with the calculation.”

(4)

In section 29 (collection of child support maintenance), in subsection (1), after “may” there is inserted “ (subject to section 4(2A) and 7(3A)) ”.