§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his policy is in respect of the enforcement of maintenance orders against former partners residing overseas, with particular reference to the case of Mrs. J. Basu of Formby (ref. 98603). [107026]
§ Jane KennedyThe UK is a party to seven international Conventions and Agreements, which have established reciprocal arrangements with a number of foreign authorities. These are designed to assist a person entitled to receive payments under a maintenance order in one country to obtain payment from a former partner residing in another. The Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible for transmitting and receiving papers between the UK courts and the overseas authorities. It would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases.