Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-1"><num>1</num><heading>Interpretation</heading><intro><p>In this Act—</p></intro><hcontainer name="definition"><content><p>“<term refersTo="#term-the-1991-act" eId="term-the-1991-act">the 1991 Act</term>” means the Child Support Act 1991;</p></content></hcontainer><hcontainer name="definition"><content><p>“<term refersTo="#term-the-2008-act" eId="term-the-2008-act">the 2008 Act</term>” means the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008.</p></content></hcontainer></section>
<hcontainer xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" name="definition"><content><p>“<term refersTo="#term-the-1991-act" eId="term-the-1991-act">the 1991 Act</term>” means the Child Support Act 1991;</p></content></hcontainer>
<hcontainer xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" name="definition"><content><p>“<term refersTo="#term-the-2008-act" eId="term-the-2008-act">the 2008 Act</term>” means the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008.</p></content></hcontainer>
<hcontainer xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" name="definition"><content><p>“<term refersTo="#term-the-1991-act" eId="term-the-1991-act">the 1991 Act</term>” means the Child Support Act 1991;</p></content></hcontainer>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" eId="section-2"><num>2</num><heading>Making of liability order</heading><content><p><mod>In section 32M of the 1991 Act (as inserted by section 25 of the 2008 Act) (liability orders), for subsection (1) substitute—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><subsection><num>(1)</num><intro><p>Where it appears to the Secretary of State that—</p></intro><level class="para1"><num>(a)</num><content><p>a person has failed to pay an amount of child support maintenance, and</p></content></level><level class="para1"><num>(b)</num><intro><p>either—</p></intro><level class="para2"><num>(i)</num><content><p>it is inappropriate to make a deduction from earnings order against the person (because, for example, the person is not employed), or</p></content></level><level class="para2"><num>(ii)</num><content><p>although a deduction from earnings order has been made against the person, it has proved ineffective as a means of securing that payments are made in accordance with the maintenance calculation in question,</p></content></level><wrapUp><p>the Secretary of State may make an order in respect of that amount against the person.</p></wrapUp></level></subsection></quotedStructure></mod></p></content></section>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" eId="section-3"><num>3</num><heading>Power to vary liability order</heading><content><p><mod>In section 32N of the 1991 Act (as inserted by section 25 of the 2008 Act) (regulations about liability orders), in subsection (2), after paragraph (b) insert—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><level class="para1"><num>(ba)</num><content><p>make provision for the variation of a liability order;</p></content></level></quotedStructure><inline name="appendText">.</inline></mod></p></content></section>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" eId="section-4"><num>4</num><heading>Appeal of liability order</heading><subsection eId="section-4-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>The 1991 Act is amended in accordance with <ref href="#section-4-2">subsections (2)</ref> to <ref href="#section-4-4">(4)</ref>.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p><mod>In section 32N (as inserted by section 25 of the 2008 Act) (regulations about liability orders), after subsection (2) insert—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><subsection eId="d25e195"><num>(3)</num><content><p>The Secretary of State must by regulations make provision for a person against whom a liability order is made to have a right to appeal to a court against the making of the order.</p></content></subsection><subsection><num>(4)</num><content><p>On an appeal under regulations under <ref href="#d25e195">subsection (3)</ref>, the court must not question the maintenance calculation by reference to which the order was made.</p></content></subsection><subsection><num>(5)</num><intro><p>Regulations under <ref href="#d25e195">subsection (3)</ref> may include—</p></intro><level class="para1"><num>(a)</num><content><p>provision with respect to the period within which a right of appeal under the regulations may be exercised;</p></content></level><level class="para1"><num>(b)</num><content><p>provision with respect to the powers of the court to which the appeal under the regulation lies.</p></content></level></subsection></quotedStructure></mod></p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-3"><num>(3)</num><content><p><mod>In section 32M (as inserted by section 25 of the 2008 Act) (liability orders), in subsection (3) for “section 20” in both places substitute <quotedText>“regulations under section 32N(3)”</quotedText>.</mod></p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-4"><num>(4)</num><content><p><mod>In section 52 (regulations and orders), in subsection (2A), after paragraph (a) insert—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><level class="para1"><num>(aa)</num><content><p>the first regulations under section 32N(3),</p></content></level></quotedStructure><inline name="appendText">.</inline></mod></p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-4-5"><num>(5)</num><content><p>In Schedule 7 to the 2008 Act (minor and consequential amendments), omit paragraph 1(3) to (6).</p></content></subsection></section>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>The 1991 Act is amended in accordance with <ref href="#section-4-2">subsections (2)</ref> to <ref href="#section-4-4">(4)</ref>.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" eId="section-4-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p><mod>In section 32N (as inserted by section 25 of the 2008 Act) (regulations about liability orders), after subsection (2) insert—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><subsection eId="d25e195"><num>(3)</num><content><p>The Secretary of State must by regulations make provision for a person against whom a liability order is made to have a right to appeal to a court against the making of the order.</p></content></subsection><subsection><num>(4)</num><content><p>On an appeal under regulations under <ref href="#d25e195">subsection (3)</ref>, the court must not question the maintenance calculation by reference to which the order was made.</p></content></subsection><subsection><num>(5)</num><intro><p>Regulations under <ref href="#d25e195">subsection (3)</ref> may include—</p></intro><level class="para1"><num>(a)</num><content><p>provision with respect to the period within which a right of appeal under the regulations may be exercised;</p></content></level><level class="para1"><num>(b)</num><content><p>provision with respect to the powers of the court to which the appeal under the regulation lies.</p></content></level></subsection></quotedStructure></mod></p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-3"><num>(3)</num><content><p><mod>In section 32M (as inserted by section 25 of the 2008 Act) (liability orders), in subsection (3) for “section 20” in both places substitute <quotedText>“regulations under section 32N(3)”</quotedText>.</mod></p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" eId="section-4-4"><num>(4)</num><content><p><mod>In section 52 (regulations and orders), in subsection (2A), after paragraph (a) insert—<quotedStructure startQuote="“" endQuote="”" uk:context="body" uk:docName="ukpga" ukl:TargetClass="primary" ukl:TargetSubClass="unknown" ukl:Context="main" ukl:Format="double"><level class="para1"><num>(aa)</num><content><p>the first regulations under section 32N(3),</p></content></level></quotedStructure><inline name="appendText">.</inline></mod></p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-4-5"><num>(5)</num><content><p>In Schedule 7 to the 2008 Act (minor and consequential amendments), omit paragraph 1(3) to (6).</p></content></subsection>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-5"><num>5</num><heading>Consequential amendments</heading><intro><p>In section 59 of the 2008 Act (transition)—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-5-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in subsection (4), omit “20(5A),”;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-5-b"><num>(b)</num><intro><p>in subsection (5)—</p></intro><level class="para2" eId="section-5-b-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “20(7A),”;</p></content></level><level class="para2" eId="section-5-b-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p><mod>after “32M,” insert <quotedText>“32N,”</quotedText>.</mod></p></content></level></level></section>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-5-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>in subsection (4), omit “20(5A),”;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-5-b"><num>(b)</num><intro><p>in subsection (5)—</p></intro><level class="para2" eId="section-5-b-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “20(7A),”;</p></content></level><level class="para2" eId="section-5-b-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p><mod>after “32M,” insert <quotedText>“32N,”</quotedText>.</mod></p></content></level></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para2" eId="section-5-b-i"><num>(i)</num><content><p>omit “20(7A),”;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para2" eId="section-5-b-ii"><num>(ii)</num><content><p><mod>after “32M,” insert <quotedText>“32N,”</quotedText>.</mod></p></content></level>
<section xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6"><num>6</num><heading>Extent, commencement and short title</heading><subsection eId="section-6-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>This Act extends to England and Wales and Scotland.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-6-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p><ref href="#section-1">Section 1</ref> and this section come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-6-3"><num>(3)</num><content><p><ref href="#section-4">Section 4</ref><ref href="#section-4-5">(5)</ref> and <ref href="#section-5">section 5</ref> come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection><subsection eId="section-6-4"><num>(4)</num><intro><p>The rest of this Act comes into force—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-6-4-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>so far as extending to England and Wales, at the same time as section 25 of the 2008 Act comes into force so far as extending to England and Wales;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-6-4-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>so far as extending to Scotland, at the same time as section 25 of the 2008 Act comes into force so far as extending to Scotland.</p></content></level></subsection><subsection eId="section-6-5"><num>(5)</num><content><p>This Act may be cited as the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023.</p></content></subsection></section>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6-1"><num>(1)</num><content><p>This Act extends to England and Wales and Scotland.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6-2"><num>(2)</num><content><p><ref href="#section-1">Section 1</ref> and this section come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6-3"><num>(3)</num><content><p><ref href="#section-4">Section 4</ref><ref href="#section-4-5">(5)</ref> and <ref href="#section-5">section 5</ref> come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.</p></content></subsection>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6-4"><num>(4)</num><intro><p>The rest of this Act comes into force—</p></intro><level class="para1" eId="section-6-4-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>so far as extending to England and Wales, at the same time as section 25 of the 2008 Act comes into force so far as extending to England and Wales;</p></content></level><level class="para1" eId="section-6-4-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>so far as extending to Scotland, at the same time as section 25 of the 2008 Act comes into force so far as extending to Scotland.</p></content></level></subsection>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-6-4-a"><num>(a)</num><content><p>so far as extending to England and Wales, at the same time as section 25 of the 2008 Act comes into force so far as extending to England and Wales;</p></content></level>
<level xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" class="para1" eId="section-6-4-b"><num>(b)</num><content><p>so far as extending to Scotland, at the same time as section 25 of the 2008 Act comes into force so far as extending to Scotland.</p></content></level>
<subsection xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" eId="section-6-5"><num>(5)</num><content><p>This Act may be cited as the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023.</p></content></subsection>