Explanatory note

These Regulations give effect in Great Britain to amendments made to reciprocal arrangements relating to matters for which provision is made by the Child Support Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”) and, in Northern Ireland, by the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (“the 1991 Order”). The amendments to the arrangements are largely consequential upon amendments to the 1991 Act made by the Social Security Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”) and the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (“the 2000 Act”), and upon amendments to the 1991 Order made by the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (“the 2000 Northern Ireland Act”). They make provision for changes in terminology introduced by the 1998 and 2000 Acts and, in Northern Ireland, by the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and the 2000 Northern Ireland Act, and update certain legislative references. The amendments are contained in the Exchange of Letters between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Work and Pensions and the Minister for Social Development set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.

The Regulations come into force on 16th April 2002, but the changes to terminology consequent upon the amendments made by the 2000 Act and the 2000 Northern Ireland Act will take effect at different times for different cases according to the dates on which section 1 of the 2000 Act and section 1 of the 2000 Northern Ireland Act are commenced for different types of cases.

These Regulations do not impose any costs on business.