Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Governor of the British Virgin Islands in relation to the proposed referendum on same-sex marriage and partnerships; and whether they plan to instruct the Governor to intervene to ensure that international legal obligations are upheld.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As separate, largely self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically-elected representatives, the British Overseas Territories are responsible for their own legislation regarding marriage and civil partnerships.
The UK Government has had several discussions with the Governor of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) about the Premier's plans for a referendum on same sex marriage and civil partnerships.
We continue to encourage the Overseas Territories to ensure their legislation delivers greater equality and is compliant with international human rights obligations.
May. 14 2024
Source Page: Self Assessment: additional information (SA101)Found: claim Marriage Allowance, complete the Marriage Allowance section on page TR5 of SA100.
May. 08 2024
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Asked by: Grant, Rhoda (Scottish Labour - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to make regulations under section 4 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 to enable pre-existing marriages to become civil partnerships.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
Section 4 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) provides the Scottish Ministers with a regulation-making power to enable marriages to become civil partnerships, if the parties so wish. The Scottish Ministers have not yet made regulations under section 4 as the Scottish Government wishes to ensure that couples who change their marriage to civil partnership have full rights and responsibilities, including in relation to reserved and cross-UK border matters. There are potential points arising on aspects of pensions (which are generally reserved) and on the recognition in England and Wales and Northern Ireland of marriages changed to civil partnerships in Scotland.
In line with usual practice, we have, therefore, been in discussions with the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (OSSS) on making an Order under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998 (legislation.gov.uk) on UK consequential legislation following the 2020 Act.
On 17 November 2022, officials in the OSSS advised Scottish Government officials that “the UK Government is not yet in a position to make a decision on the recognition of converted Scottish civil partnerships in England and Wales.” Following this, Scottish Government officials sent the OSSS on 21 December 2022 a revised policy proposal for a section 104 Order relating to changing marriages to civil partnerships covering the reserved law of Scotland only. There has been no substantive progress on this proposal in 2023.
I have written to the Secretary of State for Scotland to ask about progress in taking forward the proposal we sent to them on 21 December 2022. I also said in my letter to the Secretary of State that if the UK Government does not consider the December 2022 proposal is an appropriate way forward, it would be useful if he could outline what would be appropriate.
May. 08 2024
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May. 13 2024
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May. 09 2024
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May. 13 2024
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May. 13 2024
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May. 13 2024
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