HC Deb 19 October 1943 vol 392 cc1220-1W
Petty Officer Herbert

asked the Attorney-General whether he can give to the most convenient date, the number of marriages dissolved since the coming into operation of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937, for the causes of adultery, desertion, cruelty and insanity, respectively?

The Attorney-General

To obtain the full information which my hon. and gallant Friend requires would entail an expenditure of time and labour which I do not think would be justified at the present time. The following table deals with cases started in London.

Decrees Nisi Granted.
Year. Adultery. Desertion. Cruelty. Lunacy.
1938 … H. 2,107 4,243 815 1,502 — 180 65 77
W. 2,136 687 180 12
1939 … H. 1,648 3,381 1,009 2,023 13 352 175 222
W. 1,733 1,014 339 47
1940 … H. 1,688 3,227 978 1,816 11 293 90 111
W. 1,539 838 282 21
1941 … H. 1,713 3,030 1,020 1,847 6 208 81 106
W. 1,317 827 202 25
1942 … H. 2,549 4,530 1,411 2,496 7 311 114 139
W. 1,981 1,085 304 25
1943 to 12th Oct. H. 2,336 3,977 1,125 1,957 6 242 78 96
W. 1,621 832 236 18
H.—Husband's Petitions. W.—Wife's Petitions.