25(1)For subsections (1) and (1A) of section 12 of that Act (interim maintenance assessments) there shall be substituted the following subsection—
“(1)Where the Secretary of State—
(a)is required to make a maintenance assessment; or
(b)is proposing to make a decision under section 16 or 17,
and (in either case) it appears to him that he does not have sufficient information to enable him to do so, he may make an interim maintenance assessment.”
(2)In subsections (4) and (5) of that section, for the words “a child support officer” there shall be substituted the words “the Secretary of State”.