§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will cause an investigation to be made into a case, details of which have been supplied to him, where a man who returned to Pakistan to visit his mother on three occasions and during the 13 months he was away left his wife and six children to be kept at the expense of the social services.
§ Mr. OrmeDuring this man's absence, supplementary benefit was paid to his wife and children. Under the Supplementary Benefits Act a man is liable to maintain his wife and children and it is an offence if persistent refusal or neglect to do so results in the payment of supplementary benefit. The case was investigated and proceedings were instituted by the Department. The man was fined £50 on each of two charges and ordered to pay £30 legal costs; the court also made a compensation order against him of £445 in favour of the Department.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why persons who voluntarily leave the country are able to leave their wives and children to be kept by the social services, when they are financially able and capable of paying for their family costs; and what action he proposes to take to stop this practice in the social services.
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§ Mr. OrmeA woman who is left without support by her husband is entitled to claim supplementary benefit for herself and her dependent children and it would be wrong in a civilised society for the situation to be otherwise. There is, however, provision in the Supplementary Benefits Act for penal action to be taken against any man whose persistent refusal or neglect to maintain his wife and children results in supplementary benefit having to be paid.