HC Deb 30 January 1956 vol 548 c596
20. Mr. Collins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will approach the United States Government, with a view to making reciprocal arrangements to facilitate legal action against United States citizens who have deserted their dependants in this country, and of British citizens now in Britain who have similarly deserted their families in the United States.

Lord John Hope

No, Sir. According to the information available to me the problem of securing maintenance payments in cases of desertion does not call for special arrangements. In any case the difficulties of arranging and administering them would be immense.

Mr. Collins

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are extremely distressing cases of women with young children who have been deserted and left penniless, with no practical enforceable legal remedy? Surely this state of affairs is completely undesirable to both Governments? Will the hon. Gentleman not look into it? If he has not had evidence of such cases sent to him, I shall be very pleased to send him evidence, and I hope that he will then look into it.

Lord John Hope

I would be grateful for any evidence that the hon. Gentleman cares to send. So far very few cases of desertion have been brought to our notice.