HC Deb 19 November 1947 vol 444 cc1113-4
1. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in his negotiations with the United States and Canadian Governments regarding the payment of allowances to mothers of illegitimate children by their nationals.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)

With regard to the United States, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 12th November. With regard to Canada, it was explained by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for Dominion Affairs, in the Debate on the Adjournment on 19th December, 1945, that very considerable difficulty is seen in the way of extending to affiliation orders the procedure provided in the Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act, 1920, and corresponding legislation in Commonwealth countries. In view of these difficulties, I understand that it has not been possible so far to make progress in the matter.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Is the Under-Secretary aware that his statement gets us absolutely nowhere, and that at least a year ago one of the Ministers from the Foreign Office said that satisfactory progress was being made? Is he further aware that in the meantime a great number of these women have suffered great hardship, and cannot we at least come to some satisfactory arrangement with Canada in the matter?

Mr. Mayhew

I am aware of the difficulty and of the gravity of the problem. There is no lack of will on our part to solve it, but the difficulty is in finding the means.

Mr. Chetwynd

In cases where the American flatly refuses to honour his responsibilities, are there any charitable organisations which would be willing to help?

Mr. Mayhew

Yes, Sir, there are voluntary welfare organisations, and we are doing our utmost to get satisfactory arrangements with them, and to some extent we have been successful.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

Will the Under-Secretary bear particularly in mind that many of these children are now three or four years of age and are becoming a heavy expense to their mothers?

Mr. Mayhew

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Can my hon. Friend say how many women are placed in this unfortunate position?

Mr. Mayhew

I think that the figure is available. I believe it is in the neighbourhood of 1,500.

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