§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Attorney-General, pursuant to the reply by the Solicitor-General to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 8 March, Official Report, c. 348, about conciliation services, if he will set out the terms of reference of the committee that has been set up to consider this; and if he has yet made a decision on whether to publish the committee's report.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe terms of reference of the committee of officials which is examining matrimonial conciliation services are—
To review current arrangements for conciliation, that is to say the provision of facilities and services to assist the parties to actual or potential matrimonial proceedings, with a view to bringing about a settlement of disputes, or reducing the area and intensity of conflicts between them and in particular:No decision has yet been taken as to the publication of the Committee's report.
- (a) to report on the nature, scope and effects (including financial and manpower consequences) of existing facilities and services;
- (b) to consider whether these or further facilities should be promoted or developed, and if so how this could best be done within existing resource planning;
- (c) to consider any consequential changes in matrimonial law or procedure."