HC Deb 05 April 1977 vol 929 cc405-6W
Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered recommendations 1 and 2 of the Finer Report on One-Parent Families; and what action he intends to take.

Mr. John

I have no present intention of introducing legislation to implement these recommendations. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 4th April—[Vol. 929, c. 321–2.]

Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered the reforms of matrimonial law and practice outlined in recommendation 41 of the Finer Report in the light of the Law Commission's Report on matrimonial proceedings in magistrates' courts; and what action he intends to take.

Mr. John

Legislation to implement the Law Commission's recommendations will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.

Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered recommendation 53 of the Finer Report in the light of the Law Commission's Report on matrimonial proceedings in magistrates' courts; and what action he intends to take.

Mr. John

We accept the principle of the recommendation that a new system of statistics of domestic proceedings in magistrates' courts is needed. We are considering how, within the current restraints on public expenditure, this information can be provided.

Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken on recommendation 224 of the Finer Report and in particular if he has commissioned any research on the difficulties faced by the children of women prisoners and the families of long-term hospital patients.

Mr. John

None.

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