Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008

Long title

A Bill to establish the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission; to amend the law relating to child support; to make provision about lump sum payments to or in respect of persons with diffuse mesothelioma; and for connected purposes.

Summary

<p>The Bill proposes to replace the Child Support Agency with a new body, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. </p><p>Parts 1-3 and Part 5 of the Bill aim to reform the child support maintenance system. Part 4 contains provisions to extend compensation to all people suffering from diffuse mesothelioma. </p><p>The Child Support Agency was set up in 1993 following the Child Support Act 1991, which was subsequently amended in 1995 and 2000. </p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>Changes the present system of maintenance collection </li><li>Changes the way maintenance payments are calculated </li><li>Strengthens the collection and enforcement methods available to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission </li><li>Introduces new powers to manage debt</li><li>Fast tracks up-front lump sum payments for people diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma and their dependants</li><li>Amends the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 in order to fund payments through a compensation recovery mechanism.</li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

1. 1st reading· Commons

   5 June 2007 – 5 June 2007

2. 2nd reading· Commons

   4 July 2007 – 4 July 2007

3. Programme motion· Commons

   4 July 2007 – 4 July 2007

4. Carry-over motion· Commons

   4 July 2007 – 4 July 2007

5. Money resolution· Commons

   4 July 2007 – 4 July 2007

6. Committee stage· Commons

   17 July 2007 – 16 October 2007

7. 1st reading· Commons

   7 November 2007 – 7 November 2007

8. 2nd reading· Commons

   7 November 2007 – 7 November 2007

9. Report stage· Commons

   3 December 2007 – 3 December 2007

10. 3rd reading· Commons

    3 December 2007 – 3 December 2007

11. 1st reading· Lords

    4 December 2007 – 4 December 2007

12. 2nd reading· Lords

    18 December 2007 – 18 December 2007

13. Committee stage· Lords

    29 January 2008 – 20 February 2008

14. Report stage· Lords

    7 May 2008 – 13 May 2008

15. 3rd reading· Lords

    2 June 2008 – 2 June 2008

16. Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons

    3 June 2008 – 3 June 2008

17. Programme motion· Commons

    3 June 2008 – 3 June 2008

18. Royal Assent· Unassigned

    5 June 2008 – 5 June 2008