HC Deb 15 October 1996 vol 282 cc855-6W
Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to introduce the child support departure system. [40915]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

I have today laid draft regulations which, subject to the approval of the House, will provide for the departures system to be phased in nationally from 2 December 1996.

The child support formula assessment is right in the vast majority of cases but the new system will allow scope for discretion in the small proportion of cases where the standard formula is not seen to produce a fair result. The grounds on which a departure application may be made include, for example, property and capital transfers made before April 1993 and high travel costs to maintain contact with the child. Also included are cases where parents are diverting income which would otherwise be available or where their lifestyle is inconsistent with their declared income.