§ Q3. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Scottish Office, Home Office, and the Department of Health and Social Security on the working of the divorce laws; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HamiltonThe right hon. Gentleman must be aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction resulting from the 1567 lack of harmony between the English divorce law and the Scottish, and that the Scottish Law Commission, the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Office itself, in addition to a large volume of public opinion, want this reform and harmonisation of the law. Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Leader of the House to see whether the facilities and time might be given to allow a Private Member's Bill on the subject to get on the Statute Book?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman asked me about the co-ordination between Departments, not about the state of the law as between two different parts of the United Kingdom. I am not responsible for that. There have been attempts by Scottish Members to change the law of divorce in Scotland, and they have failed. The hon. Gentleman is now to make a further attempt himself. If his proposals are acceptable in principle, drafting assistance will be given to him, but the Government already have a heavy legislative Session ahead, and I give no undertaking about providing time for a Private Member's Bill.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the Prime Minister aware that the Scottish Ministers themselves want the Bill, that the Scottish Law Commission and virtually all enlightened opinion in Scotland want it? Does not he agree that those are compelling reasons why the Leader of the House should regard it as a special case? If the Government do not have the courage to introduce their own Bill, surely they should give facilities for the House freely to express its opinion, and at least give the time for it to do so?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not accept that. These are matters normally dealt with through Private Members' Bills. If the hon. Gentleman has the support that he has enunciated, his only task now is to get the support of the House for his Bill.