Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

Debate between Baroness D'Souza and Baroness Cumberlege

Monday 17th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Cumberlege]

No, my Lords, I am not going into divorce. I am trying to keep my proposed amendment quite narrow. I am trying to find a middle way, a way that allows registrars to have a conscientious objection because they are not bit parts in this exercise—they are intrinsic to it. I think they should have that right, just as doctors, teachers and everybody else that I have mentioned do. I also understand, having been in local government and knowing how registrars work, the issue of having to work out the workforce that is required to carry out these functions. I am saying that if a registrar is trying to exercise a conscience clause—the clause that we are here trying to give that person—but there is a shortage of registrars within that area, I am afraid that he or she would be compelled to do it.

[The Lord Speaker (Baroness D'Souza)]

My Lords, if this amendment is agreed to I cannot call Amendment 11A by reason of pre-emption.