§ 9. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Deparement how many letters he received in December, 1971, from women concerning their failure to receive alimony granted to them by court order.
§ Mr. CarlisleDuring December three letters were received from women complaining about the enforcement of maintenance orders in magistrates' courts in England and Wales.
§ Mr. DalyellI acknowledge what the Government have done about attachment of earnings, but do they imagine that they have solved the problem? Does the hon. and learned Gentleman realise that Members of Parliament are getting twice as many letters on this matter as before?
§ Mr. CarlisleNo, I do not for a moment think that one has solved the problem. The problem is that of achieving means of geting money out of people who, for some reason or another, may be unable to pay or determined not to pay. This is an extraordinarily difficult problem. However, as the hon. Gentleman appreciates, we have taken certain actions to strengthen the court machinery for enforcing maintenance orders.