§ Miss Richardsonasked the Attorney-General if he will list the recommendations of the Finer committee on one-parent families which relate to the work of the Lord Chancellor's Department, showing whether the recommendation (a) has been implemented, (b) is under consideration or (c) was rejected.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe recommendations—numbered as in pages 495–498 and 509–510 pf the Finer Committee's report—which relate to the work of the Lord Chancellor's Department are: 26–40, 42–51, 134–135, 137 and 141. Recommendations numbers 134 and 135 have been implemented; 26–40 and 42–51 on the establishment of family courts are under consideration; and 137 has been rejected. In its Third Report on Family Property (1978; Law Com. No. 86) the Law Commission advised that it was not necessary to implement recommendation number 137 since the purpose of that recommendation can be achieved by the exercise of the court's powers under section 24 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Recommendation number 141 is not a matter for the Government, but since 1974 more attention has been paid to all aspects of matrimonial law, including questions or rights in the matrimonial home, in the training of prospective solicitors and banisters, and the College of Law and other bodies also arrange courses on matrimonial law for qualified solicitors and their staff.