David Taylor (North West Leicestershire, Labour)

I remind the Committee that with this we are discussing the following amendments: No. 137, in schedule 7, page 69, line 16, at end insert—

‘(1A) In that section, in subsection (10)(aa) (which refers to maintenance orders)—

(a) insert at beginning “a registered minute of agreement made after 5th April 1993 or”

(b) for “one year” substitute “48 months”’.

No. 138, in schedule 7, page 69, line 16, at end insert—

‘(1A) In section 7 (right of child in Scotland to apply for assessment), in subsection (10), after “written maintenance agreement” insert “or a registered minute of agreement”’.

No. 139, in schedule 7, page 69, line 19, at end insert—

‘(2A) In section 9 (agreements about maintenance), for subsection 1, substitute—

“(1) In this section—

“maintenance agreement” means any agreement for the making, or for securing the making, of periodical payments by way of maintenance, or in Scotland aliment, to or for the benefit of any child.

“registered minute of agreement” means any agreement containing provisions relating wholly or partly to maintenance, or in Scotland aliment, to or for the benefit of any child which has been registered for execution in the Books of Council and Session or the sheriff court books.”’.

No. 140, in schedule 7, page 69, line 19, at end insert—

‘(2A) In that section, in subsection (2), at end add “or a registered minute of agreement”’.

No. 141, in schedule 7, page 69, line 19, at end insert—

‘(2A) In that section, in subsection (3)—

(a) after “section 4(10)(a)” insert “and (aa)”

(b) after “written maintenance agreement” insert “or a registered minute of agreement.”’.

No. 142, in schedule 7, page 72, line 9, at end insert—

‘“registered minute of agreement” has the meaning given in section 9(1) of the Child Support Act 1991.’.

James Plaskitt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions; Warwick & Leamington, Labour)

Before we rose for the break I was trying to reach the end of my final sentence, but I did not quite make it before the clock struck. In view of the reassurances that I hope that I was giving to hon. Members, I was just about to ask the hon. Member for Rochdale to withdraw his amendment and, if the hon. Gentleman was still minded to press it to a vote, to urge my hon. Friends to oppose it.

Paul Rowen (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Rochdale, Liberal Democrat)

I listened carefully to what the Minister said on this group of amendments, but, although I understand his assurances, we Liberal Democrats feel that important principles are at stake.