"You definitely used the word “easier”—and the transcript, I am sure, will tell us that.
Aidan Jones: The quotation from our senior practitioner used the word healthier—it is possible to have a healthier divorce. I think that is a better way to describe it...." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
"Q Sorry; you were referring to one element of it, saying, “This is easier.”
David Hodson: It makes it a far more respectful process. Our existing law is harder, because we make our clients go through the process of inventing allegations of unreasonable behaviour or making allegations of adultery …..." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
"Q Or, occasionally, identifying them if they actually do exist.
David Hodson: We do not now have to. If I may say this, with respect, we changed the law a few years ago so that you no longer name a co-respondent. That is just part of what we try …..." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
"Q Do we have any idea in percentage terms of how many people start proceedings but do not conclude them?
David Hodson: Can I deal with that? That is a real concern for the Law Society. There is some doubt about the statistics. It is a particular concern with …..." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
"Q One final question from me: is there something we could do that would be more significant in removing the pressure or burden on children, other than removing the fault element?
Nigel Shepherd: I do not think so. This Bill does what it says on the tin in that …..." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
"Q That is the most significant thing in removing the impact on children?
Nigel Shepherd: It is one element that we can achieve through this Bill. Of course, there are things that we need to continue to work on...." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
"Q Hang on a second. The last time we tried to change this was in 1996, and it did not change. This feels like a fairly unique opportunity in terms of timescale, so is there something else we could be doing that would be more significant?
"Q Is there some evidence that changes of the type proposed by this legislation would lead to an increase in the number of divorces? I am reading a couple of cases here. Leora Friedberg found in her research that unilateral divorce laws were responsible for about 17% of the …..." Eddie Hughes - View Speech
Professor Trinder: There is a large number of academic studies looking at the relationship between divorce rates and divorce law in a range of jurisdictions. You can always find one or two studies that will be outliers, particularly from the United States where there are aligned …..." Eddie Hughes - View Speech