§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)asked, Whether the Government would agree to give a Return
Of the number of Suits instituted year by-year in Scotland; (a) for judicial separation; (b) for divorces since the 1st day of January 1857. Such Return to distinguish between suits by husbands and suits by wives, and to state in how many cases the suit was successful, in how many cases it was dismissed, and how many suits never came to a hearing; and in how many cases the Lord Advocate intervened, and the results of such intervention.This Return followed up the one which had been applied for by the right hon. Member for Mid Lothian (Mr. W. E. Gladstone), the only difference being that this applied to Scotland.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)said, his attention had not been called to the hon. Member's Notice, and he had no opportunity of conferring with the Scotch Office on the subject. He, therefore, asked the hon. Member to repeat the Question to-morrow.
§ MR. HUNTERgave Notice that on an early day next Session he would ask leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law relating to divorce in England and Scotland.