§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for payment of maintenance by divorced men to their former wives who are responsible for dependent children; what procedure he adopts for compelling payment of arrears of maintenance; and how many divorced wives with dependent children did not receive regular payment of maintenance in the last accounting period.
§ The Attorney-General:I have been asked to reply.
The Government are keeping under constant review the system of enforcement of maintenance orders in all courts. The Attachment of Earnings Act, 1971, makes certain improvements in the procedure whereby an order may be enforced by attachment of earnings, and came into force on 2nd August, 1971. The committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Morris Finer is at present investigating what further steps can be taken to alleviate hardship in this field.
There is no information available as to the number of divorced wives who do not receive regular payment of maintenance.