Duty of HM Revenue and Customs to ascertain financial circumstances of non-resident parent

‘(1) In section 11 of the Child Support Act 1991 (maintenance calculations) after subsection (6) insert—

“(6A) Where subsection (6) applies or an application for a variation under section 28 has been made by either the non-resident parent or the parent with care and any question arises concerning the income of the non-resident parent—

(a) HMRC shall take all reasonable steps to investigate and verify the financial circumstances of the non-resident parent in order to establish his income for the purposes of this Act or regulations made under it;

(b) the non-resident parent shall provide such information as is required by HMRC in order to verify the financial information submitted by him or on his behalf.”.

(2) After subsection (8) of that section insert—

“(8A) In this section “HMRC” means the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.”’.—[Andrew Selous.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—

The Committee divided: Ayes 5, Noes 9.

Division number 16 - 5 yes, 9 no

Voting yes: Mark Harper, Stewart Jackson, Paul Rowen, Andrew Selous, Michael Weir

Voting no: Wayne David, Natascha Engel, Nia Griffith, Stephen Hesford, Siân James, Anne McGuire, Albert Owen, James Plaskitt, Desmond Turner

Question accordingly negatived.