Explanatory note

These Regulations make miscellaneous amendments to regulations relating to child support, and come into operation on 6th April 2008.

Regulation 1 deals with citation and commencement.

Regulation 2 makes a number of amendments to the Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992. It extends the purposes for which the Driver and Vehicle Agency and credit reference agencies may be required to furnish information to the Department. It makes provision for deposit-takers, for example, banks and building societies, to be required to furnish information to the Department for various purposes. It extends the purposes for which information or evidence may be required to include information or evidence needed to enable the collection and enforcement of child support maintenance payable, or amounts payable under a relevant court order.

Regulation 3 amends the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992. It sets out the information which a liable person subject to a deduction from earnings order must provide on leaving employment or becoming employed, or re-employed. It is an offence if a liable person does not provide such information.

An Impact Assessment of the effect of these regulations on the costs of business has been prepared and may be obtained from the CSA Policy Team, Department for Work and Pensions, 5th Floor, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NA. It is also available on the Department for Work and Pensions’ website http://www.dwp.gov.uk/resourcecentre/ria.asp. A copy has been placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament.