§ Mr. McCorquodaleasked the Attorney-General what sum was expended from public funds for the purpose of poor persons' matrimonial causes for the years ended 31st March, 1949, and 31st March, 1950, respectively; and what proportion of each total sum was expended in divorce proceedings.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe total amount expended from the grant-in-aid to the Law Society for poor persons' litigation on matrimonial causes in the year ended 31st March, 1949, was £178,372 out of £180,604. No definite figures for the year ended 31st March, 1950, are yet available, but the estimated figures are £204,800 out of £207,125. It is not possible to extract from the total spent on matrimonial causes the amount expended on divorce proceedings, nor is it possible to estimate what proportion of the total cost of the administration of justice (including the salaries of judges and kindred services) in the period in question ought to be attributed to the disposal of these causes.