8. Miss Wardasked the Minister of National Insurance if he will consider amending the Family Allowances Act in such a way as to ensure that a man who has a court order to meet in respect of a child for 7s. 6d. shall not be required to meet the claim out of unemployment insurance or sickness benefit which includes no allowance for a child.
§ Mr. PeakeI am not clear what case my hon. Friend has in mind. In any event, I do not think that the Family Allowances Act is the appropriate place to deal with a man's liabilities under a court order.
Miss WardWhether the Family Allowances Act is appropriate or not, is my right hon. Friend aware that it is that Act which is involved in a case of this kind? Unless an alteration can be made, a man drawing unemployment insurance or sickness benefit has the alternative of going into default on his court order or paying out of his benefit more money than he can possibly afford? Would my right hon. Friend kindly inquire into this matter further with a view, perhaps, to giving guidance to the courts of summary jurisdiction on the application of the Act?
§ Mr. PeakeIf it is any satisfaction to my hon. Friend, I can tell her that she has succeeded in asking a Question the meaning of which has completely baffled myself, the National Assistance Board and the Home Secretary. I would, however, invite her to clarify her point in an interview with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary.