§ 9. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he received in June, 1972, from women who had failed to obtain alimony granted them by court order.
§ Mr. CarlisleFive, Sir.
§ Mr. DalyellCan anything be done, in co-operation with the Inland Revenue, to help those women who are paying tax on alimony that they do not receive?
§ Mr. CarlisleThe fact that I may give an unhelpful supplementary answer will not, I hope, make the hon. Gentleman feel that I do not accept the purpose behind the campaign he is running on this important matter, but it must be a matter for the Treasury, not the Home Office, and I understand that the hon. Gentleman has a Question down to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on that point.
§ Mr. WhiteheadWill the hon. and learned Gentleman also undertake to examine those unfortunate occasions when a woman is awarded derisory alimony by the courts because the man who has deserted her can show that he is supporting another wife, or a common law wife, and a family? In those cases 2036 such women are given very little to live on.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe amount of any individual order must be a matter for the courts. There is a power at any time to apply to vary the order if the individual spouse believes that the resources of the other spouse have varied. I am sure the courts will always bear in mind the responsibility of the man to maintain his wife or his ex-wife, whichever it may be.