HC Deb 08 May 1975 vol 891 cc1588-9
1. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were imprisoned for debt in 1974; and how many of these were in respect of non-payment of maintenance orders.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon)

Provisional figures show that in 1974, 3,338 persons were received into prison for non-payment of money—other than fines—on the order of a magistrates' court. Of these, 2,914 persons were committed for default in the payment of maintenance in respect of a spouse or children, including illegitimate children. A further 59 persons were received into prison for non-payment of money on the order of a county court, and these may include some committals in respect of High Court or county court maintenance orders.

Mr. Fernyhough

Does not my hon. Friend agree that when a man has not worked for quite a long time, and he has no resources except supplementary benefit, it is purposeless sending him to gaol because he has not maintained his payments? In such cases are men sent to gaol for contempt rather than for the debt?

Mr. Lyon

If my right hon. Friend has a specific case in mind and writes to me about it I shall be glad to consider it. My understanding of the court practice is that a man would not be sent to prison in such circumstances if he brought the facts to the court's attention. It is possible that he could be committed on an order that had been suspended before the court knew about the new circumstances.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

Does my hon. Friend agree that the imprisonment of offenders of this type does nothing to help the women and children who do not receive their maintenance payments? Therefore, will he consult my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Social Services to find means of helping the women who are affected in this way, either by deducting the payments at source when the man is working or by implementing the recommendations of the Finer Report, which was published recently?

Mr. Lyon

I have much sympathy with what my hon. Friend has said. As she knows, the Finer Committee's recommendations are under consideration by the Government. However, in considering what should be done before we have an alternative, as suggested by the Finer Report, we must recognise that 90 per cent. of those against whom suspended committal warrants are issued pay up before they go to prison.