§ 10. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will 1749 give the number of letters for March, 1972 which he has received from women who have not been given alimony awarded by court order.
§ Mr. CarlisleSix, Sir.
§ Mr. DalyellCannot another look be taken at the possible rôle of the Inland Revenue and the Department of Social Security? Members of all parties still get these heartbreak letters, despite the measures that the Government have taken.
§ Mr. CarlisleI am sorry to disappoint the hon. Gentleman. Any matter with regard to the Treasury he must put down to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. John FraserWith a negative income tax in the offing is not there a case for having discussions with the Treasury and the Department of Social Security to find a better way of ensuring that payments are made regularly and avoiding the waste of time and frustration of many wives entitled to receive maintenance who find that payments are irregular and that the method of collection from the court is very inconvenient?
§ Mr. CarlisleI am aware of the concern which is expressed on both sides of the House about the distressing cases of women relying on maintenance orders which are not complied with by their husbands. We have arranged for payment by post to meet the hon. Gentleman's last point. The Attachment of Earnings Act, 1971, strengthened the procedure for the use of the attachment of earnings. But the whole matter is being looked at by the committee under Maurice Finer set up by the previous Government.
§ Mr. DalyellWhen will it report?