HC Deb 11 February 1977 vol 925 cc868-9W
Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken on recommendation 54 and 59 to 63 of the Finer Report on one-parent families.

Mr. Harry Ewing

On recommendation 54, a Working Party set up by the Scottish Courts Administration is making a full review of Scottish civil judicial statistics.

On recommendations 59 and 61, the hon. Member will be aware from the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 2nd December 1976 and by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 2nd November 1976 that the Government have been unable to accept the Committee's recommendations on guaranteed maintenance allowances and the introduction of family courts. Similar considerations apply in Scotland.

On recommendation 60, the Divorce (Scotland) Act 1976 established irretrievable breakdown of marriage as the sole ground of divorce and applied the same criterion for actions of separation.

On recommendation 62, a new simplified procedure to deal with certain actions of interim ailment between spouses was introduced on 1st September 1976. The considerations underlying recommendation 63 will continue to be borne in mind.—[Vol 921, c. 255; Vol. 918, c. 557].

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