§ Mr. ChisholmTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take action to prevent official pressure being put on women to name fathers for maintenance purposes.
§ Mr. BurtThere is currently no requirement for a mother to name the father of her child when claiming social security benefits, though more than three-quarters of never-married mothers do so voluntarily. From April 1993, when the Child Support Agency is established, there will be a legal requirement for parents in receipt of prescribed benefits to co-operate in obtaining maintenance for their children. Taxpayers, many of whom have families of their own, should not have to shoulder the responsibility of providing for children where the natural parents are able to do so. However, the matter will be dealt with sympathetically by trained officers and the requirement will be waived where there are reasonable grounds for believing that compliance would risk causing harm to undue distress to the mother or any child living with her.