§ Mr. Barnettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Maintenance Order Act, 1958; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe working of the Maintenance Orders Act, 1958, was among the matters considered by the Committee on the Enforcement of Judgment Debts, which has just reported to 51W my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any statement.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the Maintenance Order Act, 1958, so that the wife shall first receive arrears of maintenance when the husband has surplus net earnings over the minimum stipulated by the court, rather than the present system whereby the employer has to pay such surplus to the husband if he has earned less than the stipulated minimum during previous periods.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganMy right hon. Friend has no such proposals in mind, but he would be ready to consider any evidence of defect in the existing law.