§ 32. Mr. Dalyellasked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions took place in May, 1972, or any convenient recent period, against men who have 1173 failed to pay alimony granted by court order.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19th June, 1972.—[Vol. 839, c. 25–26.]
§ Mr. DalyellAnd many other answers. The situation remains unsatisfactory. In these circumstances, could not the Inland Revenue be persuaded to use its tracing facilities?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe hon. Gentleman asks me about prosecutions. I indicated last time that these are not prosecutions. The hon. Gentleman refers to alimony. If he has in mind, as I think he has, matters of maintenance, no figures for judgment summonses in 1972 are available. The best figure available in 1970 about the number of men committed to magistrates' courts is 2,962.
§ Sir Elwyn JonesMy hon. Friend asked about tracing arrangements. Is the Attorney-General satisfied that the Departments concerned co-operate fully in this respect? Most hon. Members have received complaints about the difficulties of wives, whose children are being abandoned, not being fully helped in attempting to trace their defaulting husbands.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI appreciate that it is increasingly difficult to trace husbands, particularly one determined to disguise where he lives or where he is employed, but I assure the right hon. and learned Gentleman that every effort is being made. It nevertheless remains a difficult task.