HC Deb 25 January 1982 vol 16 c244W
Mr. Best

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor's Department will conduct a study into the effectiveness of matrimonial conciliation services attached to divorce county courts.

The Solicitor-General

An independently-funded programme of research into the effectiveness of court-based conciliation schemes is already being carried out. The Lord Chancellor is closely interested in the development of conciliation schemes generally, and is at present considering the recommendation made in the Law Commission's report on the financial consequences of divorce (Law Com. No. 112) that conciliation services should be investigated.

Mr. Best

asked the Attorney-General if he will list in the Official Report all matrimonial conciliation services attached to divorce county courts, stating in each case how they are funded and staffed.

The Solicitor-General

Independent arrangements for conciliation are being introduced into a number of divorce county courts on a local basis in several different forms and no definitive list of such initiatives is at present available, but the Lord Chancellor will write to my hon. Friend to give him the best available information.