Commentary on Sections Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments
This schedule contains amendments which are minor or consequential on the measures in the Act. In particular the Schedule provides for amendment to the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.
Article 22 of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 is amended to provide for an appeal to the appeal tribunal against the making of a liability order by the Department under the new Article 32M. An appeal will lie on limited grounds, that is, that the person has not failed to pay an amount of child support maintenance or that the amount of the liability order exceeds the amount owing. In deciding any appeal against the making of a liability order, the appeal tribunal will not be able to question the maintenance calculation in relation to which the order is made.
Article 46 of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 is amended so that the offence of unauthorised disclosure of information covers members and staff of the Department, employees of those providing services to the Department and those employed in employment of a kind prescribed in regulations. The latter could include, for example, employment with a credit reference agency.
Section 103 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 is amended to include the definition of a maintenance order. The equivalent definition is currently contained in section 102 of that Act, but the repeal of this section is provided for in Schedule 4 of the Act.