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1505687

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Law Commission review Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 19 July, which has called for legal recognition for humanist marriages.
tabling member printed	Lord Low of Dalston
uin	HL2228
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The Law Commission report published on 19 July 2022 did not consider the question of whether non-religious belief organisations, including Humanists, should be able to conduct legally binding weddings. The report contains 57 recommendations for legislative reform .</p><p>We must now take the time to consider the Law Commission’s 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, including balancing the needs and interests of all groups. We will publish a response to the report in due course</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 20/09/2022 10:45:36 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	3803 label Biography information for Lord Low of Dalston

1505688

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the announcement on marriage reform by the Northern Ireland Department of Finance on 1 July affects legal recognition for humanist marriages in England and Wales.
tabling member printed	Lord Low of Dalston
uin	HL2229
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>Since marriage is a devolved matter, any decisions regarding humanist marriages in Northern Ireland will not impact marriage laws in England and Wales.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 20/09/2022 13:50:41 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	3803 label Biography information for Lord Low of Dalston

1504862

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give humanist marriages legal recognition by laying an Order under the Marriage Act 2013; and if so, whether they will consider doing so on an interim basis pending further reform of marriage law.
tabling member printed	Lord Pickles
uin	HL2156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>In July 2019, the Government invited the Law Commission to undertake a review of weddings law in England and Wales. The Law Commission report was published on 19 July 2022 and contains 57 recommendations for legislative reform.</p><p>To lay an order on an interim basis does not allow the necessary time to consider the Law Commission’s recommendations in full. 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, including balancing the needs and interests of all groups. We will publish a response to the report in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 20/09/2022 10:44:12 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	33 label Biography information for Lord Pickles

1504875

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Law Commission report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published 19 July, what plans, if any, they have to grant legal recognition to humanist marriages; and on what timescale they plan to grant such recognition.
tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
uin	HL2200
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The Law Commission report contains 57 recommendations for legislative reform.</p><p>We must now take the time to consider the Law Commission’s 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, including balancing the needs and interests of all groups. We will publish a response to the report in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 20/09/2022 10:46:29 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1452678

registered interest
date	21/03/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of introducing inconsistencies into the law around marriage if humanist marriages are legislated for before the Law Commission's review in this area has concluded.
tabling member printed	Lord Strasburger
uin	HL7178
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2022 answer text <p>In 2014, the Government published a consultation paper and response assessing the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages. This concluded that the matter was complex, and that by allowing Humanists to solemnise marriages in unrestricted locations, the Government would create a provision for Humanists that would not be available to all groups.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure we are considering the implications of changing the law on marriage on all groups, we invited the Law Commission to undertake a review which is currently underway and is expected to report in July of this year. By looking at the law comprehensively, the Law Commission will seek to put forward proposals that would ensure that, insofar as possible, groups and couples are all subject to the same rules and the same level of regulation. That reform is not possible by only authorising Humanist weddings, even on a temporary basis pending the Law Commission report.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations when the final report is published in July, and it is right for us to wait for the outcome of the report before amending marriage law any further.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 04/04/2022 10:23:17 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	4204 label Biography information for Lord Strasburger

1452001

registered interest
date	16/03/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of extending legal recognition to humanist marriages in premises approved for civil marriages and civil partnerships in advance of the outcome of the Law Commission review of marriage law; and, if any such assessment concluded that such an extension was not possible, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Desai
uin	HL7014
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>In 2014, the Government published a consultation paper and response assessing the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages. This concluded that the matter was complex, and that by allowing Humanists to solemnise marriages in unrestricted locations, the Government would create a provision for Humanists that would not be available to all groups.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure we are considering the implications of changing the law on marriage for all groups, we invited the Law Commission to undertake a review which is currently underway and is expected to report in July of this year. By looking at the law comprehensively, the Law Commission will seek to put forward proposals that would ensure that, insofar as possible, groups and couples are all subject to the same rules and the same level of regulation. That reform is not possible by only authorising Humanist weddings, even on a temporary basis pending the Law Commission report.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations when the final report is published in July, and it is right for us to wait for the outcome of the report before amending marriage law any further.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 30/03/2022 16:26:24 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	2699 label Biography information for Lord Desai

1452026

registered interest
date	16/03/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend legal recognition to humanist weddings; and why they did not do so at the same time as extending legal recognition to outdoor weddings.
tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
uin	HL7039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>In 2014, the Government published a consultation paper and response assessing the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages. This concluded that the matter was complex, and that by allowing Humanists to solemnise marriages in unrestricted locations, the Government would create a provision for Humanists that would not be available to all groups.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure we are considering the implications of changing the law on marriage for all groups, we invited the Law Commission to undertake a review which is currently underway and is expected to report in July of this year. By looking at the law comprehensively, the Law Commission will seek to put forward proposals that would ensure that, insofar as possible, groups and couples are all subject to the same rules and the same level of regulation. That reform is not possible by only authorising Humanist weddings, even on a temporary basis pending the Law Commission report.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations when the final report is published in July, and it is right for us to wait for the outcome of the report before amending marriage law any further.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 30/03/2022 16:28:51 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1433399

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to grant full legal status to humanist marriages.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bakewell
uin	HL6215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government will consider the case for comprehensive and enduring reform once the Law Commission has completed its review of marriage law. The Law Commission will present options for reforms to modernise marriage law. Options are expected to include offering couples greater flexibility to form their own ceremonies, allowing the ceremony to take place in a much broader range of locations and to provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations (such as Humanists) and/or independent celebrants to conduct legally binding weddings. The report is expected in July 2022.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 07/03/2022 16:43:08 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	4223 label Biography information for Baroness Bakewell

1343229

registered interest
date	01/07/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of legally recognising humanist marriages on choice for same-sex couples wanting to get married.
tabling member printed	Baroness Featherstone
uin	HL1636
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2021 answer text <p>The Marriage (Same Sex) Couples Act 2013 enables same-sex couples to have a civil marriage and also allows religious organisations to opt in to marry same-sex couples, should they wish to do so. Separately, Government consulted in 2014 on marriages by non-religious belief organisations. A summary assessment of costs and benefits was published in the response, which can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/marriages-by-non-religious-belief-organisations" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/marriages-by-non-religious-belief-organisations</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government in 2019 committed to accelerate plans to allow civil weddings and civil partnerships to be held outside and said it would look to implement these changes through secondary legislation, subject to any necessary consultation. On 1 July, time limited amending regulations came into force to allow couples who can already legally marry to have their civil wedding ceremony in the linked outdoor areas of Approved Premises. The Government will undertake a public consultation on these measures and intends to produce an Impact Assessment. A further instrument will be laid in Spring 2022.</p><p> </p><p>A Law Commission project on marriage and civil partnership is due to report later this year and is expected to present recommendations for wholesale reform to the law governing marriage ceremonies, which the Government will consider carefully. Options being explored by the Law Commission as part of their review include offering couples greater flexibility over the form of their ceremony, allowing the ceremony to take place in a much broader range of locations and to provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations, such as Humanists and independent celebrants, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage in light of the Law Commission's recommendations.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar grouped question UIN HL1637 question first answered 15/07/2021 16:56:04 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone

1343230

registered interest
date	01/07/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have undertaken interim civil marriage reform to legislate for outdoor weddings but have not done the same for humanist marriages.
tabling member printed	Baroness Featherstone
uin	HL1637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2021 answer text <p>The Marriage (Same Sex) Couples Act 2013 enables same-sex couples to have a civil marriage and also allows religious organisations to opt in to marry same-sex couples, should they wish to do so. Separately, Government consulted in 2014 on marriages by non-religious belief organisations. A summary assessment of costs and benefits was published in the response, which can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/marriages-by-non-religious-belief-organisations" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/marriages-by-non-religious-belief-organisations</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government in 2019 committed to accelerate plans to allow civil weddings and civil partnerships to be held outside and said it would look to implement these changes through secondary legislation, subject to any necessary consultation. On 1 July, time limited amending regulations came into force to allow couples who can already legally marry to have their civil wedding ceremony in the linked outdoor areas of Approved Premises. The Government will undertake a public consultation on these measures and intends to produce an Impact Assessment. A further instrument will be laid in Spring 2022.</p><p> </p><p>A Law Commission project on marriage and civil partnership is due to report later this year and is expected to present recommendations for wholesale reform to the law governing marriage ceremonies, which the Government will consider carefully. Options being explored by the Law Commission as part of their review include offering couples greater flexibility over the form of their ceremony, allowing the ceremony to take place in a much broader range of locations and to provide a framework that could allow non-religious belief organisations, such as Humanists and independent celebrants, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage in light of the Law Commission's recommendations.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar grouped question UIN HL1636 question first answered 15/07/2021 16:56:04 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone