§ 44. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken, pending an agreement with the U.S. Government on the subject of maintenance and affiliation orders granted against members of the U.S. Forces, formerly in this country, to prepare a register of the women concerned.
§ Mr. EdeIt would be premature to attempt to compile such a register at the present time. I desire, however, to assure my hon. Friend that if any means can be devised by which these women can be assisted, steps will be taken forthwith to see that those concerned are informed how assistance can be obtained.
§ Mr. DribergIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Foreign Office informed me, a month ago, that the Home Office was now compiling such a register?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonArising from that answer, in which the right hon. Gentleman expressed willingness to assist in these cases, is he aware that at Lambeth Juvenile Court on 17th May in the case of a 16-year-old girl, with a month-old child by an American soldier, evidence was given that the American authorities had not replied to a request for information about the father, and will he help the bench of this court and possibly the benches of other courts to get a reply from the American authorities in such cases?
§ Mr. EdeIn every one of these cases that is brought to my notice, we do all that we can to assist the woman to get from the American authorities any information that appears to be needed.