§ 67 and 68. Mr. S. O. Daviesasked the Attorney-General (1) whether he will give a list of the Law Societies in Wales which are operating the Poor Persons Rules;
(2) whether he will take steps to ensure that the Poor Persons Rules shall be operated throughout Wales?
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somervell)The only Law Societies in Wales which are at present issuing Poor Persons certificates are the Chester and North Wales Society and the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare Society. Poor persons divorce cases from Wales, where one of the parties is serving in the Forces, are now being conducted by the Services Divorce Department of the Law Society in London. If a local solicitor is unavailable and the Committee so certify, the Rules enable the case to be conducted from London. It is very much to be regretted that all Law Societies in Wales are not 1550 operating the Poor Persons Procedure which of course depends on the co-operation of solicitors. My Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and I hope most sincerely that the Societies concerned will reconsider their attitude.