HL Deb 27 April 1981 vol 419 c1119WA
Lord Simon of Glaisdale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many petitions for divorce were filed annually from 1969 to the latest year for which figures are available.

The Lord Chancellor

The figures for England and Wales are set out in the table below and include petitions for dissolution and annulment but not petitions for judicial separation.

Year Petitions filed
1969 61,216
1970 71,661
1971 110,895
1972 110,722
1973 115,946
1974 130,942
1975 139,128
1976 144,814
1977 168,169
1978 163,567
1979 163,861
1980 171,992