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<p>Civil marriages and partnerships occur on Defence estates outside the UK and will
comply with host countries’ laws or the Sovereign Base Regulations. <ins class="ministerial">The
last civil marriage that took place on Defence estates in Cyprus was 11 March 2023
and the last civil partnership that took place on Defence estates in Cyprus was 27
June 2022.</ins><del class="ministerial">The last time such a ceremony took place
in Cyprus was 4 September 2021.</del></p><p> </p><p>Civil marriages or partnerships
cannot take place on the Defence Estate in England and Wales due to The Marriages
and Civil Partnership (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005, which requires Approved
Premises to be regularly available to the public. That is not tenable in respect of
the defence estate because of security concerns.</p><p> </p><p>On 24 July 2023, in
my capacity as Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, I wrote
to the Ministry of Justice to enquire about amending the legislation to remove the
requirement for unrestricted public access. Such an amendment would ensure that the
Defence community could enter into civil marriages and partnerships in locations that
have particular significance to them.</p><p> </p>
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