§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if it is his policy that Northern Ireland should be included in the proposed divorce law reform Bill; [71]
(2) if he will indicate the present major differences in the divorce laws as between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and what work is in hand to draft proposals to bring the two sets of laws in line. [70]
§ Sir John WheelerThe Family Law Bill which includes the proposed reforms on divorce does not extend to Northern Ireland. There are at present no major differences in the substantive divorce law as between Northern Ireland and England and Wales; but there are a number of differences in the practice and procedure between the two jurisdictions.
It has therefore been decided to undertake a comprehensive research exercise to examine the operation of divorce law in Northern Ireland. Ministers here will await the outcome of that research before giving careful consideration to the need for reform of the law in Northern Ireland.