§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 3.57 p.m.
§ Mr. Neville Sandelson (Hayes and Harlington)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
In the few moments left to me I want to thank the Government for having given this Measure their full support and, indeed, for having drafted the Bill for me.
The present state of the law is such that wives of the marriages with which the Bill is concerned cannot obtain relief even from cruelty or any other form of marital abuse. They cannot obtain maintenance, even though they and their children are shamefully abandoned by the husband and father. They cannot obtain custody of their children, whatever be the misdeeds of the children's father. Although they are lawfully married according to the marriage law of countries which permit polygamy and resident in this country, they are denied the elementary rights accorded to every other married member of the community.
Worse, as the husband cannot be compelled by a court order directly to maintain his own wife and children, they are thrown as a charge on the Supplementary Benefits Commission, to the financial detriment of the British taxpayer.
The Bill ends the anomalies and injustices of the present position. When the matter was introduced in the House of Lords last July by the Baroness Summerskill, the Bishop of Lichfield, expressed the view that this Measure strikes at a real social injustice and that its intention was in full accord with the Christian conscience in regard to marriage.
I commend the Bill to the House and express the hope that hon. Members will allow it to proceed to Committee where it can be debated in greater detail.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Standing Committee pursuant to Standing Order No. 40 (Committal of Bills).