FAMILY LAW Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000. 2 Regulations 4 and 6(3), and, for the purposes of those provisions, this regulation, shall come into force on 2nd April 2001 and regulation 2(6)(c) and (9), and, for the purposes of those provisions, this regulation, shall come into force on the day on which section 16 of the 2000 Act comes into force. 2A Regulation 2(6)(b) and, for the purposes of that provision, this regulation, shall come into force on 31st May 2001. 3 The remainder of these Regulations shall come into force in relation to a particular case on the day on which sections 1(2) and (3), 4, 18(1) and (2), and 20(1) of and Schedule 3 paragraph 11(2) and (16) to the 2000 Act come into force for the purposes of that type of case. 4 In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires— “the 2000 Act” means the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000; “the Act” means the Child Support Act 1991; “the Arrears, Interest and Adjustment Regulations” means the Child Support (Arrears, Interest and Adjustment of Maintenance Assessments) Regulations 1992 ; “the Collection and Enforcement Regulations” means the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 ; “the Collection and Enforcement of Other Forms of Maintenance Regulations” means the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement of Other Forms of Maintenance) Regulations 1992 ; and “the Fees Regulations” means the Child Support Fees Regulations 1992 . Amendment of the Collection and Enforcement Regulations 2 1 The Collection and Enforcement Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation. 2 In Part I (general), in regulation 1— a for paragraph (2) there shall be substituted— 2 In these Regulations— “the Act” means the Child Support Act 1991; “the 2000 Act” means the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000; “interest” means interest which has become payable under section 41 of the Act before its amendment by the 2000 Act; and “voluntary payment” means a payment as defined in section 28J of the Act and Regulations made under that section. ; b after paragraph (2), there shall be inserted— 2A Except in relation to regulation 8(3)(a) and Schedule 2, in these Regulations “fee” means an assessment fee or a collection fee, which for these purposes have the same meaning as in the Child Support Fees Regulations 1992 prior to their revocation by the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000 . ; and c in paragraph (3)(b) for the words from “the second day” to the end of the paragraph there shall be substituted “ the day that it is posted. ” . 3 In Part II (collection of child support maintenance)— a in paragraph (1) of regulation 2, in paragraph (2) of regulation 3 and in paragraph (2) of regulation 7, for the word “assessment” there shall be substituted “ calculation ” ; b in paragraph (1) of regulation 3— i after the words “child support maintenance” there shall be inserted “ , penalty payments, interest and fees ” ; and ii after sub-paragraph (e) there shall be added— f by debit card. ; c after paragraph (1) of regulation 3 there shall be inserted— 1A In paragraph (1), “debit card” means a card, operating as a substitute for a cheque, that can be used to obtain cash or to make a payment at a point of sale whereby the card holder’s bank or building society account is debited without deferment of payment. ; d after regulation 5 there shall be inserted— Voluntary Payments 5A 1 Regulation 5(1) shall apply in relation to voluntary payments as if— a for the words “Payment of child support maintenance” there were substituted the words “Voluntary payments”; and b the words “or other specified person” were omitted. 2 In determining when the Secretary of State shall transmit a voluntary payment to the person entitled to it, the Secretary of State shall have regard to the factor in regulation 4(2)(c). ; and e in regulation 7— i in paragraph (1)— aa at the beginning there shall be inserted “ In the case of child support maintenance, ” ; and bb after sub-paragraph (d) there shall be added— e the amount of any payment of child support maintenance which is overdue and which remains outstanding. ; ii after paragraph (1) there shall be inserted— 1A In the case of penalty payments, interest or fees, the Secretary of State shall send the liable person a notice stating— a the amount of child support maintenance payable; b the amount of arrears; c the amount of the penalty payment, interest or fees to be paid, as the case may be; d the method of payment; e the day by which payment is to be made; and f information as to the provisions of sections 16 and 20 of the Act. ; and iii after paragraph (2) there shall be added— 3 A notice under paragraph (1A) shall be sent to the liable person as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision to require a payment of the penalty payment, interest or fees has been made. . 4 After Part II there shall be inserted— PART IIA COLLECTION OF PENALTY PAYMENTS Payment of a financial penalty 7A 1 This regulation applies where a maintenance calculation is, or has been, in force, the liable person is in arrears with payments of child support maintenance, and the Secretary of State requires the liable person to pay penalty payments to him. 2 For the purposes of regulation 7(1)(e) a payment will be overdue if it is not received by the time that the next payment of child support maintenance is due. 3 The Secretary of State may require a penalty payment to be made if the outstanding amount is not received within 7 days of the notification in regulation 7(1)(e) or if the liable person fails to pay all outstanding amounts due on dates and of amounts as agreed between the liable person and the Secretary of State. 4 Payments of a penalty payment shall be made within 14 days of the notification referred to in regulation 7(1A). 5 In this Part a “liable person” means a person liable to make a penalty payment and in Part II and in this Part “penalty payment” is to be construed in accordance with section 41A of the Act. . 5 Part III (deduction from earnings orders) shall be amended as follows— a in regulation 8— i in paragraph (1), the following definitions shall be omitted: “disposable income”, “exempt income”, “interim maintenance assessment”, “prescribed minimum amount”, “protected earnings rate” and “protected income level”; and ii after the definition of “pay-day” there shall be inserted— “protected earnings proportion” means the proportion referred to in regulation 11(2). ; b in paragraph (e) of regulation 9, for the words “protected earnings rate” there shall be substituted “ protected earnings proportion ” ; c paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 10 shall be omitted; d in regulation 11— i in the heading, for the words “Protected earnings rate” there shall be substituted “ Protected earnings proportion ” ; ii in paragraphs (1) and (2), for the words “protected earnings rate” where they appear there shall be substituted “ protected earnings proportion ” ; iii in paragraph (2)— aa the words “, except where paragraph (3) or paragraph (4) applies,” shall be omitted; bb for the words “the liable person’s exempt income” there shall be substituted “ 60% of the liable person’s net earnings ” ; and cc for the word “assessment” there shall be substituted “ maintenance calculation ” ; and iv paragraphs (3) and (4) shall be omitted; e in regulation 12— i in paragraphs (2), (3) and (6), for the words “protected earnings rate” where they appear there shall be substituted “ protected earnings proportion ” ; and ii paragraph (5) shall be omitted; f in regulation 17— i in paragraph (1)(a), for the word “assessment” there shall be substituted “ calculation ” ; and ii in paragraph (1)(b), for the words “and interest on arrears” there shall be substituted “ , penalty payment, interest or fees ” ; g in paragraph (1)(f) of regulation 20— i for the words “an interim maintenance assessment” there shall be substituted “ a default or interim maintenance decision ” ; and ii for the words “maintenance assessment” there shall be substituted “ maintenance calculation ” ; h in paragraph (6) of regulation 21, the words “or (5)” shall be omitted; and i in regulation 24— i paragraph (1) shall be omitted; ii in paragraph (2)(b), for the words “, deal with” to the end of the sub-paragraph, there shall be substituted the following— he shall— i deal with the orders according to the respective dates on which they were made, disregarding any later order until an earlier one has been dealt with; ii deal with any later order as if the earnings to which it relates were the residue of the liable person’s earnings after the making of any deduction to comply with any earlier order. ; and iii in paragraphs (2) and (4)— aa for the words “one or more deduction from earnings orders”, wherever they appear, there shall be substituted “ a deduction from earnings order ” ; and bb wherever they appear, the words “or orders” shall be omitted. 6 In Part IV (liability orders)— a in paragraph (2) of regulation 27, for the words “in respect of arrears payable under section 41(3) of the Act” there shall be substituted “ , penalty payments or fees which have become payable and have not been paid ” ; b in regulation 33— i in paragraphs (1) and (3), for “40” there shall be substituted “ 39A ” ; and ii in paragraph (2), for “section 40”, there shall be substituted “ sections 39A and 40 ” ; and c after regulation 34 there shall be added— Disqualification from driving order 35 1 For the purposes of enabling an enquiry to be made under section 39A of the Act as to the liable person’s livelihood, means and conduct, a justice of the peace having jurisdiction for the area in which the liable person resides may issue a summons to him to appear before a magistrates’ court and to produce any driving licence held by him, and, where applicable, its counterpart, and, if he does not appear, may issue a warrant for his arrest. 2 In any proceedings under sections 39A and 40B of the Act, a statement in writing to the effect that wages of any amount have been paid to the liable person during any period, purporting to be signed for or on behalf of his employer, shall be evidence of the facts there stated. 3 Where an application under section 39A of the Act has been made but no disqualification order is made, the application may be renewed on the ground that the circumstances of the liable person have changed. 4 A disqualification order shall be in the form prescribed in Schedule 4. 5 The amount to be included in the disqualification order under section 40B(3)(b) of the Act in respect of the costs shall be such amount as in the view of the court is equal to the costs reasonably incurred by the Secretary of State in respect of the costs of the application for the disqualification order. 6 An order made under section 40B(4) of the Act may be executed anywhere in England and Wales by any person to whom it is directed or by any constable acting within his police area, if the liable person fails to appear or produce or surrender his driving licence or its counterpart to the court. 7 An order may be executed by a constable notwithstanding that it is not in his possession at the time but such order shall, if demanded, be shown to the liable person as soon as reasonably practicable. 8 In this regulation “driving licence” means a licence to drive a motor vehicle granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 . . 7 In Schedule 1, after “—interest” there shall be inserted— —penalty payments —fees . 8 In Schedule 3— a after “interest,” there shall be inserted “ penalty payments, fees, ” ; b in paragraph (i) after “[garnishee proceedings]” the word “or” shall be omitted; and c in paragraph (iii) after “[wilful refusal]” wherever it appears, the word “or” shall be omitted. 9 After Schedule 3 there shall be inserted, as Schedule 4, the Schedule set out in the Schedule to these Regulations. Amendment of the Collection and Enforcement of Other Forms of Maintenance Regulations 3 1 The Collection and Enforcement of Other Forms of Maintenance Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation. 2 In regulations 2(b), 3 and 4(b), for the words “maintenance assessment” wherever they appear there shall be substituted “ maintenance calculation ” . 3 In regulation 3, for “40” there shall be substituted “ 40B ” . 4 In regulation 5, for “absent parent” there shall be substituted “ non-resident parent ” . Revocation of the Fees Regulations 4 The Fees Regulations shall be revoked. Amendment of the Arrears, Interest and Adjustment Regulations 5 1 The Arrears, Interest and Adjustment Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following paragraphs of this regulation. 2 In paragraph (2) of regulation 1 (interpretation)— a the following definitions shall be omitted: “absent parent”, “due date”, “Maintenance Assessments and Special Cases Regulations” and “Maintenance Assessment Procedure Regulations”; b after the definition of “arrears notice” there shall be inserted— “Maintenance Calculation Procedure Regulations” means the Child Support (Maintenance Calculation Procedure) Regulations 2000 ; ; c before the definition of “parent with care” there shall be inserted— “non-resident parent” includes a person treated as such under regulation 8 of the Child Support (Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases) Regulations 2000 ; ; and d in the definition of “relevant person”, for “Maintenance Assessment Procedure Regulations” there shall be substituted “ Maintenance Calculation Procedure Regulations ” . 3 In Part II (arrears of child support maintenance and interest on arrears)— a in the heading to the Part, “and interest on arrears” shall be omitted; b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . d in regulation 8— i in paragraphs (1)(i) and (2), for “absent parent” there shall be substituted “ non-resident parent ” ; and ii in paragraph (2), for “maintenance assessment” there shall be substituted “ maintenance calculation ” ; and e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 In Part III (attribution of payments and adjustment of the amount payable under a maintenance assessment)— a in the heading to the Part and the heading to regulation 10, for “assessment” there shall be substituted “ calculation ” ; b in regulation 9, paragraphs (1) and (4) of regulation 10 and paragraph (1) of regulation 10A for “assessment” wherever it appears there shall be substituted “ calculation ” ; c in regulation 9, paragraph (1)(b)(i) of regulation 10 and paragraph (1) of regulation 10A, for “absent parent” there shall be substituted “ non-resident parent ” ; d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e in regulation 10A(1)— i in sub-paragraph (a), the words “family credit or disability working allowance” shall be omitted; and ii sub-paragraph (b) shall be omitted; and f after regulation 10A there shall be inserted— Repayment of a reimbursement of a voluntary payment 10B The Secretary of State may require a relevant person to repay the whole or any part of any payment by way of reimbursement made to a non-resident parent under section 41B(2) of the Act where— a a voluntary payment was made; b section 41B(1A) applies; and income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance was not in payment to that person at any time during the period in which the voluntary payment was made or at the date or dates on which the payment by way of reimbursement was made. . Savings 6 Z1 This regulation is subject to the Child Support (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2000. 1 Where, in respect of a particular case before the date that these Regulations come into force with respect to that type of case,— a interest has become due but has not been paid; b the Secretary of State has made a payment by way of reimbursement under section 41B(2) of the Act; or c arrears of child support maintenance have not been paid, these Regulations shall not apply for the purposes of— i the recovery of the interest referred to in sub-paragraph (a); ii the repayment to the Secretary of State of the whole, or part, of the sum reimbursed referred to in sub-paragraph (b); or iii the collection and enforcement of the arrears referred to in sub-paragraph (c). 2 Where in respect of a particular case after the date that these Regulations come into force with respect to that type of case an adjustment falls to be made in relation to a maintenance assessment, these Regulations shall not apply for the purposes of making the adjustment. 3 Where, before the coming into force of regulation 4 of these Regulations, fees have become due but have not been paid, the Fees Regulations shall have effect as if regulation 4 of these Regulations had not been made. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security. P. Hollis Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security 18th January 2001