§ 75. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by local authorities in securing payment from parents for the maintenance of children taken into care, especially as regards sums accruing prior to a court order; and whether he will make a statement as to the Government's intention in the matter.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am aware of the difficulty which has caused local authorities to suggest that courts should be enabled to make contribution orders with retrospective effect in respect of children received into or committed to the care of local authorities, or committed to approved schools. The matter is noted for consideration when a suitable opportunity for amending legislation occurs.
Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Married Women's Maintenance Act, 1949, to enable courts to increase the maximum weekly maintenance payments of £5 for wives and 30s. for children, in view of the diminished value of the £ sterling since these limits were fixed.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI will consider this matter, but the court must have regard to the means and circumstances of the defendant in fixing the amount of a maintenance order, and at present I have no evidence that orders are commonly made for the maximum amounts allowed by the 1949 Act.