§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married men and how many single persons have been prosecuted each year since 1966 under Section 30 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966.
§ Mr. DeanThe precise information requested is not available but the total numbers of such prosecutions heard in each year since 1967 (including a few instituted under the corresponding provisions of the National Assistance Act, 1948) were as follows:
Year Unemployed Men* Liable relatives† Total 1967‡ 95 716 811 1968 88 597 685 1969 106 598 704 * For persistent refusal or neglect to maintain themselves and any dependants. (About 20 per cent. were single men). † For persistent refusal or neglect to maintain other persons whom they were liable to maintain. (No breakdown by marital status is available). ‡ First complete year.