Explanatory note

This Order brings into force provisions of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (“the Act”) (c.6) as follows:

Article 2 commences paragraph 40(b) of Schedule 3 to the Act on different dates in relation to Scotland, and England and Wales.

Article 3 brings various other provisions of the Act into force on 1st November 2008. These include sections 3(1)(a) and 13, which transfer child support functions from the Secretary of State to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (“the Commission”), section 14, which enables the Secretary of State to make schemes for the transfer of property, rights and liabilities to the Commission; Schedule 6 which provides for the use of information by the Commission, and Schedules 7 and 8, which contain consequential provisions and repeals.

Article 4 provides that, where any document or notice that relates to a function transferred to the Commission is sent to a person by the Commission on or after 1st November 2008, any reference in that document or notice to the Secretary of State is not to invalidate that document or notice.

A full impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities and voluntary bodies.