§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many marriages contracted in Scotland during the year 1938 were preceded by proclamation of banns; how many of such marriages were objected to; how many intentions to marry so proclaimed were objected to and, in consequence, were not followed 1336W by marriage; how many of the said objections were followed by proceedings in court; and how were these proceedings disposed of;
(2) how many intended marriages were notified during the year 1938 at the offices of the registrars in Scotland; to how many of such marriages were objections intimated; in how many cases were proceedings taken in respect of such objections; and what was the nature of the proceedings?
Mr. WedderburnIn 1937—the most recent year for which the details are available—25,169 marriages were preceded by proclamation of banns in respect of both parties, 7,689 by publication of notice at registrars' offices in respect of both parties, and 762 by proclamation of banns for one party and notice for the other. With regard to the further information desired, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answers which my right hon. Friend gave him on 18th April.
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of bigamous marriages giving rise to the charges in which the 58 persons convicted of bigamy in the Scottish courts in 1937 were involved; how many of these bigamous marriages were carried through by clergymen; how many by declaration; in what way were the remainder of said bigamous marriages contracted; how many of said marriages were contracted after proclamation of banns; and how many after notification at a registrar's office?
§ The Lord AdvocateThe total number of bigamous marriages was 54, of which 25 were celebrated by ministers of religion and 29 were irregular marriages by declaration. Of the 25 regular marriages, 12 were preceded by proclamation of banns and 13 by registrar's notice. Five of the 29 irregular marriages were never registered.