§ Mr. Robert B. Jonesasked the Attorney-General, for each of the last five available years, in how many divorces involving custody of children custody was awarded (a) to the mother, (b) to the father and (c) jointly to the mother and father.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe information requested by the hon. Member has been collected only since 1980 and only from county courts on a sample basis. It is given in the table. Custody orders granted jointly in favour of the mother and father are included under "others". Separate figures for joint custody orders are to be collected from 1984 onwards. My hon. Friend will be aware that his question and this answer relate solely to custody as distinct from care and control.
Estimated* number of custody orders made in county courts: ENGLAND AND WALES Order in Favour of Wife Husband Others Total 1980 59,000 9,000 2,000 69,000 1981 59,000 9,000 2,000 70,000 1982 61,000 9,000 5,000 74,000 * All figures are estimates (to the nearest thousand) based on sample data collected during the months of March and September in each year.