asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what evidence he based his conclusion as to the existence of bogus incentive schemes and other unsatisfactory working practices, Official Report, 31 March, columns 40 and 46; and what guidance he has given to health authorities to assist them in dealing with these problems.
Report No. 1 of the Standing Commission on pay compara-
| Judicial Separations made in the High Court and County Courts† | |||||
| Year | Marriages | Divorce decrees absolute* | High court | County court | Total |
| 1959 | 340,126 | 24,286 | 92 | — | 92 |
| 1960 | 343,614 | 23,868 | 118 | — | 118 |
| 1961 | 346,678 | 25,394 | 124 | — | 124 |
| 1962 | 347,732 | 28,935 | 114 | — | 114 |
| 1963 | 351,329 | 32,052 | 116 | — | 116 |
| 1964 | 359,307 | 34,868 | 140 | — | 140 |
| 1965 | 371,127 | 37,785 | 130 | — | 130 |
| 1966 | 384,497 | 39,067 | 96 | — | 96 |
| 1967 | 386,052 | 43,093 | 127 | — | 127 |
| 1968 | 407,822 | 45,794 | 75 | 30 | 105 |
| 1969 | 396,746 | 51,310 | 56 | 60 | 116 |
| 1970 | 415,487 | 58,239 | 45 | 44 | 89 |
| 1971 | 404,737 | 74,437 | 40 | 50 | 90 |
| 1972 | 426,241 | 119,025 | 46 | 87 | 133 |
| 1973 | 400,435 | 106,003 | 75 | 115 | 190 |
| 1974 | 384,389 | 113,500 | 81 | 165 | 246 |
| 1975 | 380,620 | 120,522 | 80 | 243 | 323 |
| 1976 | 358,567 | 126,694 | 166 | 418 | 584 |
| 1977 | 356,954 | 129,053 | 165 | 596 | 761 |
| 1978 | 368,258 | 143,667 | 215 | 1,013 | 1,228 |
| *Including annulments. | |||||
| † Judicial separations are granted in the High Court under section 17 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. In addition, section 1(1) of Matrimonial Causes Act 1967 allows judicial separations to be heard at county courts where the court concerned is a court of trial. | |||||
bility, which covered NHS ancillary staffs and ambulancemen, suggested that the opportunity should be taken to overhaul inefficient practices designed to boost earnings and to review and prune unsound incentive bonus schemes. There are established procedures for both technical and financial audit of schemes and health authorities are required to correct any defects that come to light. Individual cases of failure to tackle these problems and to secure the necessary savings will be taken up with the appropriate authorities.