§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for divorce and the figures for 1970; and what are the percentage changes within the age brackets 18 to 24 years, 25 to 31 years, 32 to 38 39W years, 39 to 45 years, 46 to 52 years and 53 to 60 years.
§ Mr. FairgrieveThe number of divorces recorded in Scotland in 1979 was 8,833 as compared with 4,618 in 1970, an increase of 91 per cent. Figures are not available for the age groups requested. The table below shows the numbers of persons divorcing and percentage changes in the age groups for which figures are available.
NUMBER OF PERSONS DIVORCING Age at divorce 1970 1979 Per cent. increase Under 21 252 265 5 21–24 1,441 2,028 41 25–29 2,218 4,077 84 30–34 1,846 3,468 88 35–39 1,331 2,381 79 40–44 908 1,903 110 45–49 588 1,340 128 50–54 328 865 164 55–59 163 608 273 60 and over 161 638 296 Not stated — 93 —