§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the average cost to the public sector of divorce for a couple with two children where(a) the parties receive legal aid. (b) one or both parties are rehoused in public housing and (c) the party given custody of the children receives state benefit.
583W
Mr. John M. TaylorIt is not possible to estimate the average cost in such a case because eligibility for legal aid, public housing and state benefits depends on a number of factors but particularly the income of the husband and wife at the time of separation. However, the average cost of a legally aided divorce in the county courts in 1992–93 was £1,514.
PTE support to BR over the past five years £ million 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 Total Centro Revenue 16 17 19 22 25 99 Capital 2 4 5 8 9 28 Greater Manchester Revenue 17 22 26 28 29 122 Capital 8 7 3 6 6 30 Merseyside Revenue 12 18 22 18 22 92 Capital 3 6 8 9 14 40 South Yorkshire Revenue 3 4 4 5 6 22 Capital 1 2 — 1 7 11 Tyne and Wear Revenue 1 1 1 1 2 6 Capital — — — — — — West Yorkshire Revenue 8 9 12 15 15 59 Capital 1 3 1 3 13 21 Strathclyde Revenue 27 26 29 31 30 143 Capital 7 26 15 9 6 63 Total Revenue 84 97 113 120 129 543 Capital 22 48 32 36 55 193 Notes
1. Revenue contributions, are largely supported by central Government RSG and SSA cover and capital contributions by credit approval cover given by the Department.
2. Revenue is the level of S20 claims after audit, except 1992–93 which as yet has not been audited.
3. Capital refers to investment funded directly by PTEs, ie, it excludes investment funded by the PSO and recovered via debt charges.