I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 5, 14 and 18 together.
I welcome the study on the financial consequences of marital breakdown which was recently published by the Combat Poverty Agency. The study contains a clear and detailed analysis of how the statutory provisions governing financial support for separated spouses and their children work in practice. The author obtained full co-operation from my Department in carrying out the study, particularly in relation to a survey of claims for deserted wives' payments on which some of the main findings in the study are based. The completion of major parts of the report and its publication was made possible through financial assistance provided by the Combat Poverty Agency, who are funded by my Department.
The support received by the author indicates the importance which a study of this kind has for social welfare. There are currently over 15,000 deserted spouses receiving weekly payments from my Department and, in addition, allowances are paid in respect of over 27,000 child dependants. It is estimated that total expenditure on the deserted spouses' schemes this year will amount to £67.5 million.
Marital breakdown results in many cases in the family being deprived of the income of the main breadwinner. For that reason such families receive, after the three month period, the same weekly social welfare payment as other families so deprived, notably the families of widows and widowers. In addition, the same contribution conditions apply under social insurance and the same means conditions under social assistance to those who are deserted by the other spouse, as apply to those who are widowed. Accordingly, the cover provided for families under the social welfare code against the consequences of marital breakdown is essentially the same as that provided in the event of widowhood.
The study has shown that up to 20 per cent of claimants for deserted wives' payments do not qualify because they have either failed to prove that they were actually deserted by their husband or that they made reasonable efforts to secure maintenance from him, or both. I have already introduced major reforms to deal with these problems. Parents who are left to look after child dependants on their own are the most vulnerable and the most numerous group in this regard. Under the lone parents' allowance scheme, which will come into operation with effect from next October, all lone parents with child dependants will be entitled to a weekly payment, irrespective of the cause of the lone parenthood or the sex of the parent. The study acknowledges that the introduction of this scheme is a progressive step and in line with the recommendations of the Commission on Social Welfare in this regard.
The desertion condition will now only remain for claimants for the non-means tested deserted wives' benefit and for deserted wives who have no child dependants. The National Pensions Board are reviewing these schemes in the course of examining the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women to schemes of this nature including, in particular, schemes for survivors. The report of the board is expected to be completed later this year and I will consider what further measures are necessary in the light of the board's recommendations.
One of the main conditions for entitlement to a weekly payment as a deserted or separated spouse is that the claimant had made and continues to make reasonable efforts to obtain maintenance from the other spouse. The new liable relatives provisions will fundamentally alter the way in which this condition will apply in future. At present in cases where the deserting spouse is mainly dependent on a weekly social welfare payment, the claimant is not required to seek maintenance from that spouse, as it is clear that he or she would not have sufficient income to provide such maintenance. However, in cases where the deserting spouse is employed or self-employed, claimants are normally obliged to institute maintenance proceedings, as this is the only means of determining whether the deserting spouse has sufficient income to provide maintenance and, if so, to enforce payment.
Under the new provisions officers of my Department will be in a position to obtain this information directly from the other spouse. In addition, the other spouse will be required to contribute towards the cost of any social welfare payment which has to be made as a result of his or her wilful refusal or neglect to maintain the family. In practice this will mean that my Department and the health boards, in the case of supplementary welfare allowance, will be assuming the major share of responsibility for ensuring that such spouses meet their maintenance obligations. This will result in a significant reduction in the number of claimants having to institute maintenance proceedings
A detailed report on the application of the new liable relatives provisions has been prepared by my Department and the administrative arrangements are being worked out at present with a view to the new provisions coming into force next October. Further legislative changes are also being considered in consultation with officials of the Department of Justice which would involve more effective provision being made for the enforcement of court orders in relation to contributions due by liable relatives.
I have been conscious for some time of the shortcomings of the existing statutory provisions governing financial support for the separated spouses and their children, as they apply in practice. The major reforms in this area which I have introduced go a long way towards dealing with these shortcomings, in so far as they relate to social welfare. My Department will be monitoring the effects of the new measures, in consultation with officials of the Department of Justice, with a view to establishing if any other changes are required to ease the plight of families affected by marital breakdown and to ensure, in particular, that they have adequate income support. Full account of this important study will be taken in the course of the ongoing monitoring of the situation of the families concerned.
