§ Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the annual cost to public funds of providing support to people whose problems are attributable to marriage breakdown.
§ Mr. ScottInformation about benefits paid to people in this situation is not available in the form requested. The latest published information shows that supplementary benefit in payment to divorced and separated women at February 1986 amounted to £619 million a year. This takes account of maintenance paid by the liable relative to the Department or direct for divorced or separated women claimants totalling £115 million per annum at February 1986.