HC Deb 03 December 1936 vol 318 cc1415-6
32. Mr. TURTON

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of persons committed to prison in default of payment of rates, of wife's maintenance allowance, of bastardy arrears, and of fines in the first nine months of the years 1935 and 1936, respectively?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

The total number of persons in these categories who were committed to prison during the first nine months of 1935 was 12,547, and during the corresponding period of 1936 was 8,701. As the details involve a number of figures, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mrs. TATE

Is my hon. Friend aware that since the passing of the last Act, unless magistrates clerks have very great facilities they are unable to find out whether husbands are or are not in a position to maintain their wives, and therefore these men cannot be sent to prison, and that this is having a most serious effect in the case of many married women?

Following are the details: