§ Mr. Spearingasked the Attorney-General if he will make arrangements to monitor the number of divorced wives with dependent children who, having obtained maintenance orders through the courts, do not subsequently receive regular payments of maintenance, and if he will classify the reasons, where known, for such failure.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Government are aware that there are two principle reasons for failure to comply with a court order for maintenance. One is that the means of the person liable to pay are subsequently reduced so that he temporarily becomes unable to meet the terms of the order; the other is that he is determined not to pay, and is prepared to go to some trouble to avoid doing so.
I am not satisfied that arrangements for monitoring the number of divorced wives 446W with dependent children who do not receive regular payment of maintenance would assist in dealing with this problem. The Government's concern is to provide adequate remedies through the courts, and opportunities for relief through the social security system, of which advantage can be taken by those entitled to do so.