asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the practices of all local authorities in relation to the collection, or attempted collection, of rent arrears from the wives of local authority tenants following the breakdown of marriage; and what action he proposes.

Local authority practices in the recovery of rent arrears are essentially a matter for them. But the Department's circular 78/77 and the Housing Services Advisory Group's report on the housing of one-parent families already advise them not to press for recovery of arrears from anyone other than the tenant who is actually responsible for them.