§ 5. Mr. L. M. Leverasked the Attorney-General what inquires were made by the Queen's Proctor following the decree nisi in the case of MorrisversusMorris, about which the honourable Member for Ardwick has written to him.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt is not in the public interest to disclose particulars of inquiries made by the Queen's Proctor.
§ Mr. LeverIs not the Solicitor-General aware that for some time before the decree nisi was made in this case on 9th July, 1957, the respondent put certain facts before the Queen's Proctor? Notwithstanding those facts, which would have militated against a decree absolute being made, he stated that he could take no cognisance of the facts before decree nisi, and proceeded to make the decree absolute on 21st August, 1957, six weeks after the decree nisi, notwithstanding that he had this information from the respondent, and made no request for investigation into that information before he made the decree absolute?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI doubt whether it is useful to discuss the facts of an individual case on the Floor of the House. I know that the hon. Gentleman has had correspondence with my right hon. and learned Friend, but there is no reason to think that the Queen's Proctor did not act fully and perfectly properly in this case on all the information we have. All I am saying is that it clearly would not be in the public interest to reveal the nature of his inquiries.