§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on the Government's proposals for future action on the report of the Law Commission on the matrimonial jurisdiction of magistrates' courts.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI have now had an opportunity to consider this valuable report. The report contains important recommendations which would remove the existing anomalies between the matrimonial law administered by the magistrates and the divorce jurisdiction of the higher courts. Other recommendations would enable magistrates' courts to grant orders for the protection of battered spouses or their children, and would simplify and improve procedures in matrimonial cases. A draft Bill annexed to 449W the report would give effect to these recommendations.
The Government believe that the proposals in the report should be accepted. They would introduce useful and necessary reforms in an important area of the law, and would be widely welcomed. Legislation to implement the Law Commission's recommendations will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.