2. In regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation)–
(a)in paragraph (2), after the definition of “obligation imposed by section 6 of the Act” there shall be inserted the following definition–
““official error” means an error made by an officer of the Department of Social Security acting as such which no person outside that Department caused or to which no person outside that Department materially contributed;”;
(b)in paragraph (7) for the words “8(6), 24(2), 29(3) or 31(6)(a)” there shall be substituted the words “9(1) or 18(4)”.
3. In regulation 3(2)(a) (applications on the termination of a maintenance assessment), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
4. In regulation 7 (death of a qualifying child)–
(a)in paragraph (1), for the words “the child support officer concerned” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(b)in paragraph (2), for the words “the child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
5. In regulation 8(1) (categories of interim maintenance assessment)–
(a)in paragraph (1), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(b)in paragraph (3)–
(i)for the words “a child support officer” in each place in which they occur there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(ii)the words “or the child support officer” shall be omitted.
6. In regulation 8A(2) (amount of an interim maintenance assessment) for the words–
(a)“a child support officer”; and
(b)“the child support officer”,
in each place in which they occur there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
7. Regulation 8B(3) (review of an interim maintenance assessment) is hereby revoked.
8. In regulation 8C(4) (effective date of an interim maintenance assessment)–
(a)in paragraph (1), the words “9(9) or” shall be omitted;
(b)in paragraph (1)(a), the words “regulations 8B, 9(2) and (3) and” shall be omitted;
(c)in paragraph (1)(b), the words “and to regulations 31 to 31C” shall be omitted;
(d)in paragraph (1)(c), the words “and regulations 31 to 31C” shall be omitted;
(e)in paragraph (2)–
(i)for the words from the beginning to “regulations 31 to 31C”, there shall be substituted the words “The effective date of an interim maintenance assessment made under section 12(1)(b) of the Act shall, subject to regulation 33(7)”;
(ii)for the words “is being reviewed” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State is proposing to supersede with a decision under section 17 of the Act”;
(f)in paragraph (3), the words “, regulation 8B or 9(2), (3) or (9),” shall be omitted.
9. In regulation 8D(5) (miscellaneous provisions in relation to interim maintenance assessments)–
(a)paragraph (3) shall be omitted;
(b)in paragraph (4), for the words “29, 31 to 31C, 32, 33(5) and 55” there shall be substituted the words “32 and 33(5)”;
(c)in paragraph (5)–
(i)the words “and regulation 9(15)” shall be omitted; and
(ii)for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the word “him”;
(d)in paragraph (6)–
(i)the words “Subject to regulation 9(15)” shall be omitted; and
(ii)for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(e)in paragraph (7), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
10. For regulations 9 and 9A(6) there shall be substituted the following regulation–
9.—(1) Where an interim maintenance assessment is being revised on the ground specified in regulation 17(1)(b) and the Secretary of State is satisfied–
(a)that another Category A, Category B or Category D maintenance assessment should be made, and
(b)that there has been unavoidable delay for part of the period during which the assessment which is being revised was in force,
the effective date of that other–
(i)Category A or Category D interim maintenance assessment shall be the first day of the maintenance period following the date upon which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the delay became avoidable;
(ii)Category B interim maintenance assessment shall be the date set out in regulation 8C(1)(b).
(2) Where an interim maintenance assessment is revised on either of the grounds set out in regulation 17(4) or (5), payments made under that interim maintenance assessment before the revision shall be treated as payments made under the Category B interim maintenance assessment which replaces it.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), where the Secretary of State makes a Category B interim maintenance assessment following the revision of an interim maintenance assessment in accordance with regulation 17(4), the effective date of that Category B interim maintenance assessment shall be the date determined in accordance with regulation 8C(1)(b).
(4) Where the Secretary of State makes a fresh interim maintenance assessment following the supersession of an interim maintenance assessment in accordance with regulation 20(7), the effective date of that fresh interim maintenance assessment shall be the date from which that supersession took effect.
(5) Where the Secretary of State cancels upon a revision an interim maintenance assessment in accordance with regulation 17(4) which caused a court order to cease to have effect in accordance with regulation 3(6) of the Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction Regulations, the effective date of the Category B interim maintenance assessment referred to in regulation 17(4) shall be the date on which that revision took effect.
(6) Where the revision of an interim maintenance assessment in accordance with regulation 17(5) caused a court order to cease to have effect in accordance with regulation 3(6) of the Maintenance Arrangements and Jurisdiction Regulations, the effective date of the Category B interim maintenance assessment referred to in regulation 17(4) shall be the date on which that revision took effect.”.
11. In regulation 10(7) (notification of a new or a fresh maintenance assessment)–
(a)for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted the following paragraph–
“(1) A person with a right of appeal to an appeal tribunal under–
(a)section 20 of the Act(8); and
(b)section 20 of the Act as extended by paragraph 3(1)(b) of Schedule 4C to the Act(9),
shall be given notice of that right and of the decision to which that right relates.”;
(b)paragraphs (1A) to (1C) shall be omitted;
(c)in paragraph (2)–
(i)after the words “paragraph (1)” there shall be inserted the words “of a new or fresh maintenance assessment made under section 11, 16 or 17”; and
(ii)in sub-paragraph (i), the words “or (b)” shall be omitted;
(d)in paragraph (2A), for the words “a review under section 16 of the Act of a maintenance assessment the effective date of which is on or before 8th December 1996 or a review under section 19(1)” there shall be substituted the words “a revision of a maintenance assessment under section 16 of the Act or a supersession of a maintenance assessment under section 17 of the Act”;
(e)in paragraph (3)(a), for the words “of the child support officer concerned” there shall be substituted the words “of the officer concerned who is exercising functions of the Secretary of State under the Act”;
(f)for paragraphs (4) to (6) there shall be substituted the following paragraph–
“(4) Where a decision as to a maintenance assessment is made under section 11, 12, 16 or 17 of the Act, a notification under paragraph (1) shall include information as to the provisions of sections 16 and 17 of the Act.”.
12. In regulation 10A(10) (notification of increase or reduction in the amount of a maintenance assessment)–
(a)in paragraph (1), for the words–
(i)“a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(ii)“section 18” there shall be substituted the words “sections 16 and 17”;
(b)in paragraph (2)(a) for the words “of the child support officer concerned” there shall be substituted the words “of the officer concerned who is exercising functions of the Secretary of State under the Act”.
13. Regulations 11 to 15A(11) are hereby revoked.
14. In regulation 16(12) (periodical reviews), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
15. For regulation 16A(13) (notification that an appeal has lapsed) there shall be substituted the following regulation–
16A. Where an appeal lapses in accordance with section 16(6) of the Act, the Secretary of State shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, notify the relevant persons that that appeal has lapsed.”.
16. For Parts V to VII of the Maintenance Assessment Procedure Regulations(14) there shall be substituted the following Part–
17.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (6) and (8), any decision may be revised by the Secretary of State–
(a)if the Secretary of State receives an application for the revision of a decision under section 16 of the Act within one month of the date of notification of the decision or within such longer time as may be allowed by regulation 18;
(b)if–
(i)the Secretary of State notifies a person, who applied for a decision to be revised within the period specified in sub-paragraph (a), that the application is unsuccessful because the Secretary of State is not in possession of all of the information or evidence needed to make a decision; and
(ii)that person reapplies for a decision to be revised within one month of the notification described in head (i) above, or such longer period as the Secretary of State is satisfied is reasonable in the circumstances of the case, and provides in that application sufficient evidence or information to enable a decision to be made;
(c)if the decision arose from an official error;
(d)if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the original decision was erroneous due to a misrepresentation of, or failure to disclose, a material fact and that the decision was more advantageous to the person who misrepresented or failed to disclose that fact than it would otherwise have been but for that error; or
(e)if the Secretary of State commences action leading to the revision of a decision within one month of the date of notification of the decision.
(2) A decision may be revised by the Secretary of State in consequence of a departure direction where that departure direction takes effect on the effective date.
(3) Subject to regulation 20(6) a decision of the Secretary of State under section 12 of the Act may be revised where–
(a)the Secretary of State receives information which enables him to make a maintenance assessment calculated in accordance with Part I of Schedule 1 to the Act for the whole of the period beginning with the effective date applicable to a particular case; or
(b)the Secretary of State is satisfied that there was unavoidable delay by the absent parent in–
(i)completing and returning a maintenance enquiry form under the provisions of regulation 6(1);
(ii)providing information or evidence that is required by him for the determination of an application for a maintenance assessment; or
(iii)providing information or evidence that is required by him to enable him to revise a decision under section 16 of the Act or supersede a decision under section 17 of the Act.
(4) Where an interim maintenance assessment is in force which is not a Category B interim maintenance assessment and the Secretary of State is satisfied that it would be appropriate to make a Category B interim maintenance assessment, he may revise the interim maintenance assessment which is in force.
(5) Where the Secretary of State revises an interim maintenance assessment in accordance with paragraph (4) and that interim maintenance assessment was made immediately following a previous interim maintenance assessment, he may also revise that previous interim maintenance assessment.
(6) Paragraph (1) shall apply neither–
(a)in respect of a material change of circumstances which–
(i)occurred since the date as from which the decision had effect; or
(ii)is expected, according to information or evidence which the Secretary of State has, to occur; nor
(b)where–
(i)an appeal against a decision has been brought but not determined; and
(ii)from the point of view of the appellant, a revision of that decision, if made, would be less to his advantage than the original decision.
(7) In paragraphs (1), (2) and (6) and regulation 18(3) “decision” means a decision of the Secretary of State under section 11 or 12 of the Act and any supersession of such a decision.
(8) Paragraph (1) shall apply in relation to–
(a)any decision of the Secretary of State with respect to a reduced benefit direction or a person’s liability under section 43 of the Act; and
(b)the supersession of any such decision under section 17 as extended by paragraph 2 of Schedule 4C to the Act,
as it applies in relation to any decision of the Secretary of State under sections 11, 12 or 17 of the Act.
18.—(1) The period of one month specified in regulation 17(1)(a) may be extended where the requirements specified in the following provisions of this regulation are met.
(2) An application for an extension of time shall be made by a relevant person or a person acting on his behalf.
(3) An application for an extension of time under this regulation shall–
(a)be made within 13 months of the date on which notification of the decision which it is sought to have revised was given or sent; and
(b)contain particulars of the grounds on which the extension of time is sought and shall contain sufficient details of the decision which it is sought to have revised to enable that decision to be identified.
(4) The application for an extension of time shall not be granted unless the person making the application or any person acting for him satisfies the Secretary of State that–
(a)it is reasonable to grant that application;
(b)the application for a decision to be revised has merit; and
(c)special circumstances are relevant to the application for an extension of time,
and as a result of those special circumstances, it was not practicable for the application for a decision to be revised to be made within one month of the date of notification of the decision which it is sought to have revised.
(5) In determining whether it is reasonable to grant an application for an extension of time, the Secretary of State shall have regard to the principle that the greater the time that has elapsed between the expiration of the period of one month described in regulation 17(1)(a) from the date of notification of the decision which it is sought to have revised and the making of the application for an extension of time, the more compelling should be the special circumstances on which the application is based.
(6) In determining whether it is reasonable to grant the application for an extension of time, no account shall be taken of the following–
(a)that the person making the application for an extension of time or any person acting for him was unaware of or misunderstood the law applicable to his case (including ignorance or misunderstanding of the time limits imposed by these Regulations); or
(b)that a Child Support Commissioner or a court has taken a different view of the law from that previously understood and applied.
(7) An application under this regulation for an extension of time which has been refused may not be renewed.
19. Where the date from which a decision took effect is found to be erroneous on a revision under section 16 of the Act, the revision shall take effect from the date on which the revised decision would have taken effect had the error not been made.
20.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (10), for the purposes of section 17 of the Act, the cases and circumstances in which a decision (“a superseding decision”) may be made under that section are set out in paragraphs (2) to (7).
(2) A decision may be superseded by a decision made by the Secretary of State acting on his own initiative–
(a)where he is satisfied that the decision is one in respect of which there has been a material change of circumstances since the decision was made;
(b)where he is satisfied that the decision was made in ignorance of, or was based upon a mistake as to, some material fact; or
(c)in consequence of a departure direction or of a revision or supersession of a decision with respect to a departure direction.
(3) Except where paragraph (8) applies, a decision may be superseded by a decision made by the Secretary of State where–
(a)an application is made on the basis that–
(i)there has been a change of circumstances since the decision was made; or
(ii)it is expected that a change of circumstances will occur; and
(b)the Secretary of State is satisfied that the change of circumstances is or would be material.
(4) A decision may be superseded by a decision made by the Secretary of State where–
(a)an application is made on the basis that the decision was made in ignorance of, or was based upon a mistake as to, a fact; and
(b)the Secretary of State is satisfied that the fact is or would be material.
(5) A decision, other than a decision given on appeal, may be superseded by a decision made by the Secretary of State–
(a)acting on his own initiative where he is satisfied that the decision was erroneous in point of law; or
(b)where an application is made on the basis that the decision was erroneous in point of law.
(6) An interim maintenance assessment may be superseded by a decision made by the Secretary of State where he receives information which enables him to make a maintenance assessment calculated in accordance with Part I of Schedule 1 to the Act for a period beginning after the effective date of that interim maintenance assessment.
(7) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) of regulation 17, where the Secretary of State is satisfied that it would be appropriate to make an interim maintenance assessment the category of which is different from that of the interim maintenance assessment which is in force, he may make a decision which supersedes the interim maintenance assessment which is in force.
(8) This paragraph applies–
(a)where any paragraph of regulation 21 applies; and
(b)in the case of a Category A or Category D interim maintenance assessment.
(9) The cases and circumstances in which a decision may be superseded shall not include any case or circumstance in which a decision may be revised.
(10) Paragraphs (2) to (6) shall apply neither in respect of–
(a)a decision to refuse an application for a maintenance assessment; nor
(b)a decision to cancel a maintenance assessment.
(11) For the purposes of section 17 of the Act as extended by paragraph 2 of Schedule 4C to the Act, paragraphs (2) to (5) shall apply in relation to–
(a)a decision with respect to a reduced benefit direction or a person’s liability under section 43 of the Act; and
(b)any decision of the Secretary of State under section 17 of the Act as extended by paragraph 2 of Schedule 4C to the Act, whether as originally made or as revised under section 16 of the Act as extended by paragraph 1 of Schedule 4C to the Act, as they apply in relation to any decision as to a maintenance assessment save that paragraph (8) shall not apply in respect of such a decision.
21.—(1) A decision of the Secretary of State shall not be superseded in any of the circumstances specified in the following paragraphs of this regulation.
(2) Except where paragraph (3) or (4) applies and subject to paragraph (5) and regulation 22, this paragraph applies where the difference between–
(a)the amount of child support maintenance (“the amount”) fixed in accordance with the original decision; and
(b)the amount which would be fixed in accordance with a superseding decision,
is less than £10.00 per week.
(3) Subject to paragraph (5), this paragraph applies where the circumstances of the absent parent are such that the provisions of paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Act would apply and either–
(a)the amount fixed in accordance with the original decision is less than the amount that would be fixed in accordance with a superseding decision and the difference between the two amounts is less than £5.00 per week; or
(b)the amount fixed in accordance with the original decision is more than the amount that would be fixed in accordance with the superseding decision and the difference between the two amounts is less than £1.00 per week.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5), this paragraph applies where–
(a)the children, in respect of whom child support maintenance would be fixed in accordance with a superseding decision, are not the same children for whom child support maintenance was fixed in accordance with the original decision; and
(b)the difference between–
(i)the amount of child support maintenance (“the amount”) fixed in accordance with the original decision; and
(ii)the amount which would be fixed in accordance with a superseding decision,
is less than £1.00 per week.
(5) This regulation shall not apply where–
(a)the absent parent is, by virtue of paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 1 to the Act, to be taken for the purposes of that Schedule to have no assessable income;
(b)the case falls within paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 1 to the Act; or
(c)it appears to the Secretary of State that the case no longer falls within paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 1 to the Act.
(6) In this regulation–
“original decision” means the decision which would be superseded but for the application of this regulation; and
“superseding decision” means a decision which would supersede the original decision but for the application of this regulation.
22. Where an application is made for a supersession on the basis of a change of circumstances which is relevant to more than one maintenance assessment, regulation 21 shall apply with the following modifications–
(a)before the word “amount” in each place it occurs there shall be inserted the word “aggregate”; and
(b)for the word “decision” in each place it occurs there shall be substituted the word “decisions”.
23.—(1) Except in a case to which paragraph (2) applies, where notice is given under regulation 24 in the period which begins 28 days before an application for a supersession is made and ends 28 days after that application is made, the superseding decision of which notice was given under regulation 24 shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which that application was made.
(2) Where a decision is superseded by a decision made by the Secretary of State in a case to which regulation 20(2)(a) applies on the basis of evidence or information which was also the basis of a decision made under section 9 or 10 of the Social Security Act 1998 the superseding decision under section 17 shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which that evidence or information was first brought to the attention of an officer exercising the functions of the Secretary of State under the Act.
(3) Where a superseding decision is made in a case to which either paragraph (2)(b) or (5)(a) of regulation 20 applies, the decision shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which the decision was made.
(4) Where a superseding decision is made in a case to which regulation 20(3)(a)(i), (4) or (5)(b) applies, the decision shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which the application for a supersession was made.
(5) Where a superseding decision is made in a case to which regulation 20(3)(a)(ii) applies, the decision shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which the change of circumstances is due to occur.
(6) Subject to paragraphs (1), (3) and (14), in a case to which regulation 24 applies, a superseding decision shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which falls the date which is 28 days after the date on which the Secretary of State gave notice to the relevant persons under that regulation.
(7) For the purposes of paragraph (6), where the relevant persons are notified on different dates, the period of 28 days shall be counted from the date of the latest notification.
(8) For the purposes of paragraphs (6) and (7)–
(a)notification includes oral and written notification;
(b)where a person is notified in more than one way, the date on which he is notified is the date on which he was first given notification; and
(c)the date of written notification is the date on which it was handed or sent to the person.
(9) Regulation 1(6) shall not apply in a case to which paragraph (8)(c) applies.
(10) Where–
(a)a decision made by an appeal tribunal under section 20 of the Act or by a Child Support Commissioner is superseded on the ground that it was erroneous due to a misrepresentation of, or that there was a failure to disclose, a material fact; and
(b)the Secretary of State is satisfied that the decision was more advantageous to the person who misrepresented or failed to disclose that fact than it would otherwise have been but for that error,
the superseding decision shall take effect as from the date the decision of the appeal tribunal or, as the case may be, the Child Support Commissioner took, or was to take effect.
(11) Any decision given under section 17 of the Act in consequence of a determination which is a relevant determination for the purposes of section 28ZC of the Act(15) (restrictions on liability in certain cases of error) shall take effect as from the date of the relevant determination.
(12) Where the Secretary of State supersedes a decision in accordance with regulation 20(6), the superseding decision shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which the Secretary of State has received the information referred to in that paragraph.
(13) Where the Secretary of State supersedes a decision in accordance with regulation 20(7), the superseding decision shall take effect as from the first day of the maintenance period in which the Secretary of State became satisfied that it would be appropriate to make an interim maintenance assessment the category of which is different from that of the maintenance assessment which is in force.
(14) Where a decision is superseded in consequence of a departure direction or a revision or supersession of a decision with respect to a departure direction–
(a)paragraph (6) above shall not apply; and
(b)the superseding decision shall take effect as from the date on which the departure direction or, as the case may be, the revision or supersession, took effect.
(15) Where a decision with respect to a reduced benefit direction is superseded because the direction ceases to be in force in accordance with regulation 41(a), the superseding decision shall have effect as from–
(a)where the direction is in operation immediately before it ceases to be in force, the last day of the benefit week during the course of which the parent concerned complied with the obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act; or
(b)where the direction is suspended immediately before it ceases to be in force, the date on which the parent concerned complied with the obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act.
(16) Where a decision with respect to a reduced benefit direction is superseded because the direction ceases to be in force in accordance with regulation 41(b), the superseding decision shall have effect as from–
(a)where the direction is in operation immediately before it ceases to be in force, the last day of the benefit week during the course of which the application under regulation 41(b) was made; or
(b)where the direction is suspended immediately before it ceases to be in force, the date on which the application under regulation 41(b) was made.
(17) Where a decision with respect to a reduced benefit direction is superseded because the direction ceases to be in force in accordance with regulation 41(c) or (d), the superseding decision shall have effect as from–
(a)where the direction is in operation immediately before it ceases to be in force, the last day of the benefit week during the course of which the Secretary of State is supplied with information that enables him to make the assessment;
(b)where the direction is suspended immediately before it ceases to be in force, the date on which the Secretary of State is supplied with information that enables him to make the assessment.
(18) Where a decision with respect to a reduced benefit direction is superseded because the direction ceases to be in force in accordance with regulation 47(1), the superseding decision shall have effect as from the last day of the benefit week preceding the benefit week on the first day of which, in accordance with the provisions of regulation 36(4), the further direction comes into operation, or would come into operation but for the provisions of regulation 40 or 40ZA.
24. Where the Secretary of State on his own initiative proposes to make a decision superseding a decision other than in consequence of a decision with respect to a departure direction or a revision or supersession of such a decision he shall notify the relevant persons who could be materially affected by the decision of that intention.”.
17. In paragraphs (2A) and (4) of regulation 30(16) (effective dates of new maintenance assessments), for the words “a child support officer” in each place in which they occur there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
18. In regulation 30A(17) (effective dates of new maintenance assessments in particular cases)–
(a)in paragraphs (2), (4)(c) and (6), for the words “a child support officer” in each place in which they occur there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(b)in paragraph (5), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the word “him”.
19. Regulations 31 to 31C(18) are hereby revoked.
20. In regulation 32 (cancellation of a maintenance assessment)–
(a)for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(b)for the words “the child support officer” there shall be substituted the word “he”.
21. In regulation 32A(19) (cancellation of maintenance assessments made under section 7 of the Act where the child is no longer habitually resident in Scotland)–
(a)in paragraph (1), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(b)in paragraph (2), for the words “the child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
22. In regulation 32B(20) (notification of intention to cancel a maintenance assessment under paragraph 16(4A) of Schedule 1 to the Act), for the words “a child support officer” in each place in which they occur there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
23. In regulation 33(3)(21) (maintenance periods), for the words from “following a review under section 16” to the words “17, 18 or 19 of the Act” there shall be substituted the words “made upon the supersession of a decision under section 17 of the Act”.
24. For regulation 35(22) (periods for compliance with obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act) there shall be substituted–
35. The period specified for the purposes of section 46(2) of the Act is–
(a)except where paragraph (b) applies, four weeks from the date on which the Secretary of State serves notice under that subsection; or
(b)eight weeks from that date where the Secretary of State has received, within two weeks of serving that notice, a statement in writing from the parent with care which sets out the reasons why she believes that, if she were to be required to comply with an obligation imposed by section 6 of the Act, there would be a risk, as a result of that compliance, of her or any child or children living with her suffering harm or undue distress.”.
25. In regulation 35A(23) (circumstances in which a reduced benefit direction shall not be given), for the words “A child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “The Secretary of State”.
26. In regulation 36(24) (amount of and period of reduction of relevant benefit under a reduced benefit direction)–
(a)in paragraph (4), for the words “the adjudication officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(b)in paragraph (5C), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
27. In regulation 38 (suspension of a reduced benefit direction when relevant benefit ceases to be payable), in paragraph (6), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
28. For regulations 41 to 46(25) there shall be substituted the following regulation–
41. A reduced benefit direction shall cease to be in force–
(a)where a parent with care, with respect to whom such a direction is in force, complies with the obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act;
(b)upon an application made for the purpose where the Secretary of State is satisfied that a parent with care, with respect to whom such a direction is in force, should not be required to comply with the obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act;
(c)where a qualifying child of a parent with respect to whom a direction is in force applies for a maintenance assessment to be made with respect to him under section 7 of the Act and an assessment is made in response to that application in respect of all of the qualifying children in relation to whom the parent concerned failed to comply with the obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act; or
(d)where–
(i)an absent parent applies for a maintenance assessment to be made under section 4 of the Act with respect to all of his qualifying children in relation to whom the other parent of those children is a person with care;
(ii)a direction is in force with respect to that other parent following her failure to comply with the obligations imposed by section 6 of the Act in relation to those qualifying children; and
(iii)an assessment is made in response to that application by the absent parent for a maintenance assessment.”.
29. In regulation 47(26) (reduced benefit directions where there is an additional qualifying child)–
(a)in paragraph (1)–
(i)for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”;
(ii)the words from “on the last day” to the end shall be omitted;
(b)in paragraph (3)(b), for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
30. For regulation 49 (notice of termination of a reduced benefit direction) there shall be substituted the following regulation–
49. Where a direction ceases to be in force under the provisions of regulations 41, 47 or 48, or is suspended under the provisions of regulation 48, the Secretary of State shall serve notice of such a termination or suspension, as the case may be, on the parent concerned and shall specify the date on which the direction ceases to be in force or is suspended, as the case may be.”.
31. Regulations 52 and 54 to 57(27) are hereby revoked.
32. In paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 1 (meaning of “child” for the purposes of the Act) for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.
33. In Schedule 2(28) (multiple applications)–
(a)in paragraph 3–
(i)in sub-paragraph (1), for the words from “refer each such application” to “the child support officer shall” there shall be substituted the words “, if no maintenance assessment has been made in relation to any of the applications,”;
(ii)in sub-paragraphs (2) to (14), for the words “the child support officer” in each place in which they occur there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”; and
(b)in paragraph 4, the words from “unless the Secretary of State” to the end shall be omitted.
Regulation 8 was added by way of substitution by S.I. 1995/3261.
Regulation 8C was added by way of substitution by S.I. 1995/3261.
Regulation 8D was added by way of substitution by S.I. 1995/3261.
Regulations 9 and 9A were substituted for regulation 9 by S.I. 1995/3261; regulation 9 was amended by S.I. 1998/58 and S.I. 1998/2799; regulation 9A was amended by S.I. 1998/2799.
Regulation 10 was amended by S.I. 1994/227, S.I. 1995/123, S.I. 1995/1045, S.I. 1995/3261, S.I. 1996/2907, S.I. 1998/2799 and S.I. 1999/XXXX.
Section 20 was substituted by section 42 of the Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14).
Schedule 4C was inserted by the Social Security Act 1998, Schedule 7, paragraph 54.
Regulation 10A was inserted by S.I. 1998/58.
Regulations 11 and 13 were amended by S.I. 1995/1045. Regulation 12 was amended by S.I. 1993/913 and S.I. 1995/3261. Regulation 14 was amended by S.I. 1995/1045 and S.I. 1995/3261. Regulation 15 was amended by S.I. 1995/3261. Regulation 15A was inserted by S.I. 1995/3261 and amended by S.I. 1996/1945.
Regulation 16 was amended by S.I. 1993/913.
Regulation 16A was inserted by S.I. 1995/3261.
Amended by S.I. 1993/913, S.I. 1994/227, S.I. 1995/3261, S.I. 1996/2907, S.I. 1996/3196, S.I. 1998/58 and S.I. 1998/2799.
Section 28ZC was inserted by section 44 of the Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14).
The relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1995/1045.
Regulation 30A was inserted by S.I. 1995/3261 and the relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1996/3196.
Regulations 31 to 31C were added by way of substitution by S.I. 1995/3261. Regulations 31 and 31C were amended by S.I. 1996/1945.
Regulation 32A was inserted by S.I. 1993/913.
Regulation 33 was amended by S.I. 1998/2799.
Regulation 35 was substituted by S.I. 1996/1945.
Regulation 57 was added by S.I. 1993/913.