HC Deb 04 March 1991 vol 187 c78W
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that there is no expectation upon women escaping violent partners to name fathers of their children at liable relatives interviews.

Mr. Jack

Our policy is that caring parents who are in receipt of benefit should be expected to co-operate in obtaining maintenance for their children unless they can show good cause for refusing to do so. It would, however, clearly not be right to define criteria for this purpose which would mean that the making of a threat of violence would automatically absolve an absent parent from liability being pursued.