CHILD MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PAYMENTS BILL
The purpose of the Bill is to:
- Establish the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission as a Non Departmental Public Body.
- Amend the Child Support Act 1992 to simplify and strengthen the assessment and enforcement of child maintenance liability.
- Set up a scheme paying a lump sum to those suffering from the asbestos related disease mesothelioma who are not currently eligible for compensation.
The main benefits of the Bill are:
- Allowing all parents choice in making a maintenance arrangement.
- Simplifying the process by which child maintenance is assessed.
- Strengthening the powers available to enforce child maintenance liabilities in the event of non-compliance.
- Providing a lump sum payment to people suffering from diffuse mesothelioma who cannot currently claim state compensation.
The main elements of the Bill are:
- Establishment of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
- Encouragement of voluntary maintenance arrangements.
- Simplification of the child maintenance assessment process.
- Strengthening of the child maintenance collection and enforcement process.
- Establishment of a self-funding lump sum payment scheme for mesothelioma sufferers not covered by the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979.
The Bill would apply to:
- England, Wales and Scotland.
- The permission of the Northern Ireland Assembly is required for a provision in Schedule 6 of the Bill. This provides for the exchange of information between the UK and Northern Ireland statutory child maintenance services.
Related documents:
Existing legislation in this area is:
- The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000
- The Child Support Act 1995
- The Child Support Act 1991
- The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997
- The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979
Comments:
If you have any comments on the draft programme or individual bill being proposed, you can email them to:
legislation@commonsleader.x.gsi.gov.uk
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