Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by Lord Bellamy on 29 November on humanist marriages (HL Deb col 1668), why they have committed to legislating for outdoor religious marriages outside of wholesale reform of marriage law.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
As part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in which the circumstances were exceptional, the Government accelerated legislation to allow outdoor civil weddings and civil partnership registrations to take place within the grounds of existing approved premises. Following a recent consultation on these measures, the provisions were made permanent. In addition, respondents were overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal to permit outdoor religious ceremonies in the grounds of places of worship, as long as this is permitted by the respective religious bodies. The Government will therefore take these proposals forward in due course.
The Law Commission’s report on weddings law was published in July and the Government is currently considering its recommendations. As has been set out in Parliament, marriage will always be one of our most important institutions and we must ensure that before publishing a response, we have considered the implications of any changes to the law very carefully.
May. 25 2023
Source Page: Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill: equality impact assessmentFound: characteristics: Age, Disability, Sex, Pregnancy and maternity, Gender reassignment, Sexual Orientation, Race, Marriage
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the publication of the Law Commission report, Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 19 July, what assessment they have made of the Marriage Act 1949 (Amendment) Bill relating to the criminalisation of purporting to solemnise marriages that are not legally registered; and what plans they have to ensure that the Bill is scheduled for a second reading.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Now that the Law Commission has completed its review, we must take the time to consider the recommendations fully. We know that marriage ceremonies occur outside the legal framework for weddings in England and Wales. The Law Commission has carefully considered this in its report. We will set out our position on this issue, and wider marriage reform, within the formal Government response in due course.
Oral Evidence Oct. 16 2023
Inquiry: The procedure of the House of Commons and the territorial constitutionFound: economic position of certain of these Territories, law and order, and social policy, such as same-sex marriage
Jan. 09 2024
Source Page: Confirmation of Pfizer vaccine: FOI releaseFound: REDACTED] [REDACTED] |Head of Major Events Unit | Scottish Government Document 15: Coronavirus - marriage
Mentions:
1: Lord Cormack (CON - Life peer) As one who believes very fervently in Christian marriage but even more in the institution of marriage - Speech Link
2: Baroness Burt of Solihull (LDEM - Life peer) David Cameron supported gay marriage because he believed that marriage is a good thing and that everyone - Speech Link
3: Lord Griffiths of Burry Port (LAB - Life peer) have also spoken from faith positions—in that it would be an addition to the richness and value of the ceremonies - Speech Link
4: Lord Bellamy (CON - Life peer) We want to make sure that, for example, a marriage of a Muslim at home—which might not be a lawful marriage - Speech Link
Found: and standards of any religion or belief; (h) To observe days of rest and to celebrate holidays and ceremonies
Found: ceremonies for same sex couples.
Apr. 25 2023
Source Page: Civil justice statistics in Scotland 2021-22Found: Divorce and dissolutions statistics Divorce is the formal procedure that ends a marriage, while the
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 27 April (HL7850) and the Law Commission report, Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 19 July, what plans they have for assessing the case for more comprehensive and enduring reform to marriage law once the Law Commission has completed its fundamental review.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Now that the Law Commission has completed its review, we must take the time to consider the recommendations fully. We know that marriage ceremonies occur outside the legal framework for weddings in England and Wales. The Law Commission has carefully considered this in its report. We will set out our position on this issue, and wider marriage reform, within the formal Government response in due course.