Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Sandra Osborne and Maria Miller(11 years, 4 months ago)
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Maria Miller
An impact assessment relating to a benefit that is predominantly claimed by women will, of course, predict the impact that the hon. Gentleman has described. We need to ensure that families across the board receive the support that will enable them to get into work that pays, and the support that they require for the future.
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)
3. What her policy is on women’s incomes.
Equal Marriage Consultation
Debate between Sandra Osborne and Maria Miller(11 years, 5 months ago)
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Maria Miller
My right hon. Friend has done a great deal of work in this area, and we listen to him with great interest. He is right that the quadruple lock I have outlined today should give clear reassurance to hon. Members and anybody outside listening that there is a considerable and thought-through way of ensuring that ministers and religious organisations are under no compulsion to undertake same-sex marriages, if they believe that it does not accord with their faith. It is absolutely right that we respect the stance taken by religious organisations and that we put in place safeguards at a domestic and European level to ensure that those safeguards are effective.
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)
As chair of the all-party group on equalities, I very much welcome the Minister’s statement. Does she agree that this is not a matter of redefining marriage, but of extending it to a group that currently does not have that right? It is a matter of equal rights in our society in the 21st century.