§ 44. Mr. Abseasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that, although marriage brokage contracts are illegal, many marriage bureaux are in essence offering clients, in consideration of a fee, introductions to prospective partners; whether, in view of public concern that some of these bureaux are disreputable, he will require the Law Commissioners to include within their current review of family law a consideration of the desirability to make such contracts legal provided only that they are entered into by approved and registered marriage bureaux.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI am not aware of public concern over these matters. Legislation requiring the registration of approved marriage bureaux would not be a matter for me; nor, since this would involve questions of social rather than legal policy, far removed from the topic of family law, would I expect my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor to invite the Law Commission to examine it. I will, however, readily consider any evidence of abuse that the hon. Member may care to submit to me.
§ Mr. AbseWill my right hon. and learned Friend note that, in view of what has been said by members of the Law Commission, that they do not feel them- 702 selves confined to deal with lawyers' law and that they should deal with social law, it will be a surprise that so rigid a rule as he is suggesting has been laid down? Will the Attorney-General note in this context that there are many abuses, such as retarded men being introduced to unmarried women, and there is clearly a need for scrutiny of many of these marriage bureaux?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI do not think that there is any rigidity in what I suggested. Where the main emphasis is on social problems, rather than on legal policy, I should have thought that this was not really within the field of the Law Commission. However, what my hon. Friend has said will be borne in mind.