The regulations governing the deserted wife's schemes provide that a woman is to be regarded as having been deserted by her husband if, (a) he has of his own volition left her, (b) he wilfully refuses or neglects to contribute to her support and maintenance, (c) she has made and continues to make reasonable efforts to trace his whereabouts and to prevail on him to contribute to her support and maintenance.
Where a separation agreement is entered into, and there is no question of desertion by the husband prior to the agreement, the parties would be held to have separated by mutual consent. In such circumstances desertion does not arise and the woman would not be entitled to payment as a deserted wife.
The suggestion of the Deputy would alter fundamentally the nature of the scheme administered by my Department for deserted wives and a situation would arise where my Department would be expected to assume responsibility where a maintenance agreement freely entered into by both parties lapsed for one reason or another.
I do not propose on the basis of the hypothetical situation quoted by the Deputy to alter the basic conditions of the scheme specifically designed for wives who have been deserted. The scheme of supplementary welfare allowances would be available to a person suffering hardship arising from the circumstances described by the Deputy.