§ Q7. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Lord Chancellor at Brighton on 5th May about changes in the law relating to divorce represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. My noble and learned Friend emphasised that he was expressing a personal view, and was not speaking on behalf of the Government.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs it not a novel procedure for a member of the Cabinet to advocate a complete change in the 1949 grounds of the law of divorce, a matter within the sphere of his Department and involving legislation, without this being the policy of the Government? Is this the new streamlined administration that we were promised?
§ The Prime MinisterIs it an extremely refreshing proposal. It has been widely recognised for many years that reforms in this area, as in so many others, are not matters for party controversy—for Government policy—but rather are matters which should come up in this House usually by Private Member's Bills. In this particular case, we shall need the work of the Law Commission, which is at present discussing this with the Bishop of Exeter's Committee. It was perfectly appropriate and right that my noble and learned Friend, since this could not be a Government question, should help to stimulate further discussion by the speech that he made.