HL Deb 20 July 1983 vol 443 cc1242-3WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish details concerning the operation of the Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 with regard to the following matters:

  1. (i)the total number of persons, (a) male (b) female, who have petitioned for divorce in Northern Ireland since the operative date of the order;
  2. (ii)the total (or estimated) number of petitioners, (a) male (b) female, who have duly appeared in court, in person, in Northern Ireland, which would not have been necessary in the rest of the United Kingdom by virtue of the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1973 [33(3) and 48] and the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1975; and
  3. (iii)what was the number (or estimated number) of petitioners in England and Wales who exercised the right under the provisions mentioned in (ii) above not to appear in person in court.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)

The details requested are as follows:

  1. (i)the total number of males and females who petitioned for divorce in Northern Ireland from April 1979 to the end of 1982 was 2,117 males and 3,559 females,
  2. (ii)the total numbers of male and female petitioners who have appeared in court in Northern Ireland where this would not have been necessary in the rest of the United Kingdom are 1,815 males and 2,982 females,
  3. (iii)the number of petitioners in England and Wales who exercised the right under the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Rules 1973 [33(3) and 48] and the Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Rules 1975 not to appear in person in court is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.