§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will outline the circumtances whereby a divorced or separated woman receiving maintenance above the level of her entitlement to supplementary benefit may have her maintenance order made over to the local supplementary benefit office; and whether the maintenance received by that office in excess of her weekly supplementary benefit can be paid to her periodically.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThis normally happens with the woman's consent, when such an order, registered in a magistrates' court, is not being fully or regularly complied with, thus causing her to need continuing payments of supplementary benefit. If over a period there is an excess of maintenance over benefit, it is paid to her.