Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the compliance of the Marriage Act 1949 and other marriage law with the right to freedom of religion or belief, when Church of England and Church in Wales marriage ceremonies fulfil legal requirements and are legally recognised, while other religious ceremonies may not be.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The law makes provision for couples to marry in registered places of worship in a way that gives them legal rights and protections. Couples may choose instead to have a religious-only celebration alongside a legally binding civil ceremony.
However, the Government does share the concern that some people may have a wedding ceremony that does not give them legal rights and protections, without appreciating the consequences.
As part of its review, the Law Commission made recommendations which seek to ensure that, insofar as possible, couples are provided the same opportunities to legally marry in a way that reflects their beliefs. This would mean fewer ceremonies conducted according to religious rites result in a marriage that the law does not recognise.
The Government is considering its report carefully and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of current marriage law in an inclusive multi-faith society.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The law makes provision for couples to marry in registered places of worship in a way that gives them legal rights and protections. Couples may choose instead to have a religious-only celebration alongside a legally binding civil ceremony.
However, the Government does share the concern that some people may have a wedding ceremony that does not give them legal rights and protections, without appreciating the consequences.
As part of its review, the Law Commission made recommendations which seek to ensure that, insofar as possible, couples are provided the same opportunities to legally marry in a way that reflects their beliefs. This would mean fewer ceremonies conducted according to religious rites result in a marriage that the law does not recognise.
The Government is considering its report carefully and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the urgency of the need for marriage law reform, with particular reference to protection and prevention for women whose religious marriage ceremonies do not comply with legal requirements and may not be legally recognised.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government shares the concern that some people, and disproportionately women, may have a religious wedding that is not legally binding, and does not provide legal protections, without appreciating the consequences.
We are carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations on weddings reform. As part of its review, the Law Commission has considered ways of ensuring there are fewer religious wedding ceremonies that result in a marriage which the law does not recognise.
Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions, and we have a duty to consider the implications of any changes to the law in this area very carefully. We are now taking the time to consider the report’s recommendations and will publish a response shortly.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Bellamy on 8 November 2022 (HL2958 and HL2957) when their response to the Law Commission’s report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law published on 19 July 2022 will be published.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government shares the concern that some people, and disproportionately women, may have a religious wedding that is not legally binding, and does not provide legal protections, without appreciating the consequences.
We are carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations on weddings reform. As part of its review, the Law Commission has considered ways of ensuring there are fewer religious wedding ceremonies that result in a marriage which the law does not recognise.
Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions, and we have a duty to consider the implications of any changes to the law in this area very carefully. We are now taking the time to consider the report’s recommendations and will publish a response shortly.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in allowing (a) civil marriage, (b) civil partnership and (c) same-sex marriage ceremonies at Ministry of Defence sites.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence is proud of all our LGBT+ personnel and the significant contributions they make to ensure our security, support our national interests, and safeguard our prosperity. We are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful and welcoming organisation for all personnel from all faiths and beliefs.
In England and Wales, neither Civil Marriage nor Civil Partnerships (for opposite sex or same sex couples) currently occur on the Defence Estates due to security considerations associated with the requirements for ongoing public access to buildings registered for this purpose. Defence will continually work together with other Government Departments to look at how restrictions can be removed to make the policy more inclusive.
As marriage is a devolved issue in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the rules differ. Civil Marriage or Civil Partnerships on Defence Estates are at the discretion of the Heads of Establishment. Civil Partnerships and Civil Marriages do occur on Defence estates outside the UK, such as in Germany and Cyprus and will comply with host countries’ laws or the Sovereign Base Regulations.
In line with the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Use of Armed Forces’ Chapels) Regulations 2014, same-sex couples have been able to marry in Armed Forces Chapels since 2014. To date, three same-sex couple marriages have taken place in Armed Forces Chapels since June 2014, two in England and one in Cyprus.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he will make it his policy to recognise Handfastings as a legal ceremony of marriage.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
In July 2019, the Government invited the Law Commission to undertake a wholesale review on weddings law in England and Wales. The Law Commission report was published on 19 July 2022 and contains 57 recommendations for extensive legislative reform.
We must now take the time to consider the report recommendations fully. As has been set out in Parliament, marriage will always be one of our most important institutions, and we have a duty to consider the implications of any changes to the law in this area very carefully. We will publish a response to the report in due course.
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.
Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will issue a full response to the Law Commission’s weddings law report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 19 July.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is currently considering the Law Commission’s report on weddings law and has a duty to consider the implications of any changes to the law in this area very carefully. The report proposes fundamental reform to weddings law in England and Wales and it is important that we take the time to fully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations before publishing a response. We will publish our response to the report in due course.
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.
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.