Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of civil partnerships being available to only same-sex couples with the Human Rights Act 1998.

The availability of civil partnership only to same sex couples is compatible with the Convention rights and we note that the application to the European Court of Human Rights challenging the availability of civil partnership only to same sex couples was declared inadmissible on 12 December 2013.

The Government carried out a review of the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 required by The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which included a full public consultation inviting views on potential changes to civil partnership.

The Government published a report, following the review, which concluded that the Government would not make any changes.