Equal Marriage Consultation

Lord Barwell Excerpts

Tuesday 11th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Maria Miller]

I reiterate and underline what I said earlier—that nothing we have announced today will change how children are taught. Teachers will be able to describe their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, but as with all teaching, we would of course expect that to be done in a balanced manner.

[Gavin Barwell (Croydon Central) (Con)]

I warmly welcome what my right hon. Friend has said today, but some of my constituents and some of my closest friends on these Benches have real concerns. Is not the message today that we must find a way to ensure that those churches that do not wish to conduct same-sex marriages do not have to, but that while they rightly demand that their religious freedom is protected, they cannot deny others who wish to conduct these marriages the opportunity to do so?

[Maria Miller]

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend, who I think has articulated the position absolutely correctly. That is the Government’s position.