§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will consider, with a view to introducing legislation, the possibility of payments made as a result of court orders being collected at the new social security offices and not at the courts, and recovery of arrears being the responsibility of her Department.
§ Miss HerbisonWhere a woman with a maintenance or affiliation order is receiving assistance, the Board, with the woman's consent, collect from the court any moneys paid on the court order and pay her a full weekly assistance grant. These arrangements will be continued when National Assistance is replaced by the new scheme of non-contributory benefits. I cannot, however, hold out any prospect of the Ministry of Social Security assuming a general responsibility for the collection of payments made on court orders and the recovery of arrears.