§ 3.7 p.m.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in view of opinions expressed to them by responsible bodies such as the Church of Ireland Social and Family Welfare Association they will now extend the scope of the Domestic Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 so as to include within that order's provisions relating to domestic violence protection men and women who are living together in a stable relationship outside marriage.
§ The Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)My Lords, the Government are considering the representations to which the noble Lord has drawn attention on this matter. A decision on whether to publish a proposal for a draft Order in Council to widen the scope of the Domestic Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 will be taken in the light of representations received and of the prevailing circumstances.
Lord DunleathMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his quite encouraging reply, I should like to ask him whether he would not agree that, if he has not yet received what he considers to be sufficient positive reaction from elected representatives, the probable reason is that those representatives are apprehensive that their constituents might interpret such reaction as indicating their approval of cohabitation of couples outside of marriage? Would he further agree that the social workers, who do not have constituents but who are dealing with these problems every day, in making such a recommendation are in no way trying to condemn, condone or judge, but rather are trying to avoid violence, as indeed our Lord succeeded in doing when he neither condemned nor expressed approval of the woman taken in adultery?
§ Lord BelsteadMy Lords, we are now assessing all the views which have been expressed on this particular 212 subject and the Government hope soon to be able to announce their conclusions on these matters.