§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Attorney-General what information he has concerning the total cost of processing divorce applications in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information sought is not readily available. It is estimated that the administrative cost of processing divorce proceedings in the High Court and in the county courts in each of the last four years was:
£ million 1987–88 16.5 1988–89 17.0 1989–90 18.3 1990–91 20.5 A substantial proportion of these costs is recovered by way of court fees, as follows;
£ million 1987–88 13.8 1988–89 14.8 1989–90 15.9 1990–91 16.9 The net cost of legal aid and advice in divorce and related matters during the same period was:
£ million 1987–88 95.6 1988–89 109.6 1989–90 117.4 1990–91 137.0