HC Deb 19 December 1928 vol 223 c3010
55. Mr. DAY

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the fact that the Married Women's Property Act, 1882, gave the wife legal ownership of her own property and of the equality of the grounds of divorce conferred by the Act of 1923 on wives, he will consider introducing an amending Act of Parliament which will make the wife, in certain circumstances, responsible for the costs of divorce proceedings?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)

The hon. Member does not gate the circumstances in which he suggests that the wife should be responsible for the costs of divorce proceedings nor does he specify the costs to which he refers. If he refers only to the wife's costs I understand that consideration is being given to the question whether the existing practice leaves sufficient discretion to the Court to award costs in exceptional cases, and whether the Rules should be amended for this purpose.

Mr. DAY

Has the hon. and learned Gentleman seen the views expressed by the President of the Divorce Court, Lord Merivale, and by Mr. Justice Salter?

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