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The divorce rate in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest rate in nearly 30 years, new figures show.

In news that may interest divorce solicitors in Birmingham, according to a report by the Office for National Statistics, the divorce rate fell by 2.5 per cent to 11.5 divorcing people per 1,000 married population in 2008 compared to 11.8 in 2007.

Divorces in Scotland fell by ten per cent from 2007 to 2008, while divorces in Northern Ireland decreased by 4.8 per cent.

The figures show that the 2008 divorce rate in England and Wales was the lowest since 1979, when there were 11.2 divorces per 1,000 married people.

Family lawyer Martin Loxley said the decreased divorce rates could be attributed to better marriage counselling and a rise in separation agreements.

'It was widely expected that divorce levels would rise in 2008 as a result of the strains and stresses added by the recession, so it is great to see couples sticking together through the harder times,' he said.


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