§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he accepts the recommendation of the Finer committee on one-parent families that imprisonment as a sanction for maintenance defaulters should be abolished; and, if so, when he will bring forward legislation to implement it.
§ Mr. BrittanWe are not satisfied that there is an adequate alternative to the courts having the power in the last resort to use the threat of imprisonment as a means of enforcing the payment of maintenance.