Equal Marriage Consultation

Lilian Greenwood Excerpts

Tuesday 11th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Maria Miller]

My hon. Friend is right that many of these matters evolve over time. Our consultation has allowed us to listen to the many and varied views and reflect those views in the proposals. On an electoral mandate, the Conservative party’s commitment was set out in the contract for equalities, which sat alongside our manifesto at the election, and which laid out the importance of considering the case for changing the law.

[Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)]

Does the Minister agree that, given that respect for freedom of religion is vital, it is right that faith groups that wish to marry same-sex couples should be allowed to do so?

[Maria Miller]

I can give the hon. Lady a simple answer: yes.