HC Deb 23 January 1948 vol 446 cc77-8W
Mr. McCorquodale

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the cost of the services provided by the State in the last financial year in facilitating the divorce proceedings of those who cannot afford the full fees and expenses involved.

The Attorney-General

The grant-in-aid to the Law Society for poor persons' litigation covers a small proportion of proceedings other than proceedings in matrimonial causes. In the year ending 31st March, 1947, the proportion of this grant which is estimated to have been expended on poor persons' matrimonial causes was £209,670. It is not possible to estimate what proportion of the total cost of the administration of justice (including the salaries of Judges and Commissioners and kindred services) in the period in question ought to be attributed to the disposal of these causes.