§ 80. Mr. Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many divorces were granted in Scotland in each of the years 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970; how many of these were assisted by legal aid; to what value; and what proportion of the legal aid was paid in legal fees and what proportion in travelling and other expenses of witnesses.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellInformation about the number of legal aid certificates granted in connection with divorce proceedings and the relative cost to the Legal Aid Fund is not available on a calendar year basis. Such information as is readily available is as follows:
1.—NUMBER OF DIVORCES GRANTED 1967 2,963 1968 4,766 1969 4,215 1970 4,589
2. —NUMBER OF LEGAL AID CERTIFICATES GRANTED (TO ONE OR BOTH PARTIES) IN RESPECT OF ACTIONS FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE Year ended 31st March: 1967 4,334 1968 4,590 1969 5,140 1970 5,296 110W
3.—TOTAL COST TO LEGAL AID (SCOTLAND) FUND OF ACCOUNTS RELATING TO DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS WHICH WERE PAID IN THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH Total Counsels' and Solicitors Fees* Outlays* £000 £000 £000 1967 372 279 93 1968 380 281 99 1969 548 400 148 1970 600 438 162 * These are estimated figures. Vol. 814 The cost of such proceedings to the Legal Aid (Scotland) Fund was partly offset by contributions made by assisted persons and expenses awarded in their favour.