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Proceeding contribution from Lord Skelmersdale (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 5 February 2008. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill.


Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill

I am certainly not going to press the amendment, but I wonder if the Minister has considered an event which must be quite common. There are two parents with care, who, having taken their children to school, are sitting in a local cafe having a cup of coffee or tea and a bun together. One parent with care has been married and has a settlement through the courts where a capital sum has been taken into account and the maintenance on an ongoing basis is only slightly reduced from the statutory CMEC rate as a result—although I understand that it could be quite a lot reduced in some circumstances. The other parent with care has gone through the CMEC system and is getting £x a week, which is considerably more than the weekly income of child maintenance of the first parent with care. Immediately, jealousy will raise its ugly head. As a result of that, the first parent with care will turn to CMEC. There is absolutely no doubt about that at all, even though I understand exactly what the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, said about the reasons for introducing the 12-month rule.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
698 c526GC 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Child support Children Cooperation Arrears Child Support Agency Custody Liability Income Maintenance Parents Payments Overseas residence Self-employed Revenue and Customs Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Legislation
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill 2006-07 to 2007-08
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk