Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1537003

registered interest
date	27/10/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage: Family Law
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	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.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL2957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2022 answer text <p>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.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy grouped question UIN HL2958 question first answered 08/11/2022 16:34:45 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1464849

registered interest
date	23/05/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Proceeds of Crime: Nigeria
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will refrain from releasing any funds from the Abacha loot until concerns relating to corruption within the government of Nigeria are allayed; and whether they will commit to publishing a copy of any agreements reached on the transfer of the funds relating to the Abacha loot.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). In line with the UK’s framework for transparent and accountable asset return, the UK ensures consistency, transparency and accountability in its process for returning funds to other countries.</p><p>The UK will always sign a case-specific agreement with the relevant country detailing the steps that the recipient Government will take to ensure the funds are put to their intended use.</p><p>All agreements which oversee the return of funds abroad are published on gov.uk</p><p>The NCA’s recent recovery of $23,439,724.98 from the associates and family of former Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was carried out following a request from the US Department of Justice (USDOJ). As such, the Home Office will transfer the funds in this case to the USDOJ.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL408 question first answered 08/06/2022 16:40:23 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1464850

registered interest
date	23/05/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Proceeds of Crime: Nigeria
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the article by Bloomberg UK 'U.S. to Proceed with Case to Seize Nigerian Governor's Funds', published on 8 March, what steps they will take to ensure that the Abacha loot held in the UK will not end up in the hands of criminals.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL408
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). In line with the UK’s framework for transparent and accountable asset return, the UK ensures consistency, transparency and accountability in its process for returning funds to other countries.</p><p>The UK will always sign a case-specific agreement with the relevant country detailing the steps that the recipient Government will take to ensure the funds are put to their intended use.</p><p>All agreements which oversee the return of funds abroad are published on gov.uk</p><p>The NCA’s recent recovery of $23,439,724.98 from the associates and family of former Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was carried out following a request from the US Department of Justice (USDOJ). As such, the Home Office will transfer the funds in this case to the USDOJ.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL407 question first answered 08/06/2022 16:40:23 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1401656

registered interest
date	10/01/2022
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Marriage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper published on 14 March 2018, whether they can provide an update on their progress in exploring "the legal and practical challenges of limited reform relating to the law on marriage and religious weddings."
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL5231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2022 answer text <p>This is a difficult issue which requires careful consideration. The Law Commission are looking at aspects of the problem through their review of the law governing legal marriage ceremonies. This review will present options for reforms to modernise marriage law, including in relation to who can solemnise a marriage and ways of ensuring that fewer weddings conducted according to religious rites result in a marriage that the law does not recognise at all. The Government will consider the case for more comprehensive and enduring reform to marriage law once the Law Commission’s recommendations have been received.</p><p> </p><p>A separate Nuffield Foundation study, launched in September 2020 and due to report shortly, is investigating why marriage ceremonies occur outside of the legal framework for weddings in England and Wales, and the findings of this report will also be carefully considered. Any proposals affecting how religious groups are permitted to conduct marriages must be thoroughly assessed for their fairness.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 24/01/2022 16:31:12 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1383573

registered interest
date	30/11/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Islam: Marriage
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 British Muslim women have the rights set out in paragraph nine of Resolution 2253 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, published on 22 January 2019, specifically in relation (1) to obtaining the protection of legal marriage, and (2) to discriminatory practices in relation to religious divorce.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL4544
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2021 answer text <p>The law has long made provision for couples, including Muslim couples, to marry in their place of worship in a way that gives them legal rights and protections. The Government shares the concern that some people may nonetheless marry in a way that does not give them these legal rights and protections, without appreciating the consequences.</p><p>We continue to explore limited reform and non-legislative options in this area with the greatest of care. This work will be informed by the forthcoming reports from the Law Commission on weddings, and from the Nuffield Foundation on religious weddings.</p> answering member printed Lord Wolfson of Tredegar question first answered 14/12/2021 16:58:20 answering member 4901 label Biography information for Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1379192

registered interest
date	16/11/2021
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Marriage: Religion
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ascertain the number of British citizens currently united in religious-only marriages.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL4074
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2021 answer text <p>The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.</p><p>Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician</p><p> </p><p>Baroness Cox</p><p>House of Lords</p><p>London</p><p>SW1A 0PW</p><p>23 November 2021</p><p> </p><p>Dear Baroness Cox,</p><p> </p><p>As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what steps have been taken to ascertain the number of British citizens currently united in religious-only marriages (HL4074).</p><p> </p><p>The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing marriage statistics for England and Wales. The most recent year for which marriage statistics are available is 2018<sup>1</sup>. National Records Scotland (NRS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are responsible for publishing marriage statistics for marriages registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.</p><p> </p><p>An annual breakdown of the number of religious marriages which took place in England and Wales is available. A religious marriage is defined as a marriage solemnised in certified places of worship that are registered for marriage, and is carried out in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of a religious denomination.</p><p> </p><p>To provide the number of British citizens currently united in religious-only marriages would potentially require changes to the civil registration process, as information about the nationality of individuals marrying is not provided to the ONS by the General Register Office, and this information is not collected during the marriage registration process.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1 provides the number of religious marriages registered in England and Wales for each year for the period 2008 to 2018. It is important to note that these counts may be an underestimate as some marriages (such as Muslim and Sikh) undertaken in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of a religious denomination, may take place at unregistered premises. Such marriages do not meet the legal requirements needed in England and Wales for a religious marriage and are recorded as civil marriages.</p><p> </p><p>Yours sincerely,</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Professor Sir Ian Diamond</p><p> </p><p>Table 1: Number of religious marriages<sup>2</sup> registered<sup>3</sup> in England and Wales<sup>4</sup>, 2008 to 2018<sup>5</sup></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number of religious marriages</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>78,498</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>76,493</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>78,128</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>74,452</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>79,473</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>68,600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>68,051</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>62,658</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>60,069</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>54,346</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>48,181</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Office for National Statistics</p><p>1 <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/datasets/marriagesinenglandandwales2013" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/datasets/marriagesinenglandandwales2013</a></p><p>2 Marriage statistics are derived from information recorded when marriages are registered as part of civil registration, a legal requirement.</p><p>3 Figures include opposite-sex and same-sex marriages registered in England and Wales.</p><p>4 Figures exclude marriages to residents of England and Wales that took place abroad.</p><p>5 The latest marriage statistics available for are for 2018. It is currently only possible to publish final annual marriage statistics around 26 months after the end of the reference year due to delays in the submission of marriage entries by the clergy and registrars.</p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 30/11/2021 12:27:51 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True attachment 1 file name Letter Response to PQHL4074.pdf title Letter Response to PQHL4074
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1338353

registered interest
date	21/06/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Myanmar: Arms Trade
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries they have contacted regarding the introduction of an arms embargo on Myanmar.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL1231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2021 answer text <p>The UK is a longstanding supporter of an arms embargo on Myanmar. We are clear that no one should sell arms to Myanmar. The UK worked to secure a strong G7 statement on the 3 and 23 February urging all countries to immediately suspend arms sales to Myanmar. On 5 May, the UK secured a G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting Communiqué that committed G7 members to continue to prevent the supply of arms and technical assistance to the military. The G7 Leaders' Communiqué of 13 June reaffirmed G7 unity on pursuing additional measures should they prove necessary. On 18 June, the UK worked with partners to deliver a UN General Assembly Resolution which urged member states to prevent the flow of arms to Myanmar. We will continue to work closely with partners and through multilateral institutions, such as the UN Security Council, to apply pressure directly on those who sell arms to the military.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/07/2021 16:33:03 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1313629

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Armenia: Azerbaijan
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Azerbaijan about the continuing detention of Armenian prisoners, particularly in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL21
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>During recent visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Minister for the Americas and European Neighbourhood urged both parties to work with the ICRC to expedite the returns of all prisoners of war. Our Embassies in Baku and Yerevan continue to raise this with the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The UK Government will continue to support both sides in abiding by the November peace deal and to settle all outstanding matters through talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/05/2021 11:05:54 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1313630

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Nagorno Karabakh: Cultural Heritage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Azerbaijan about UNESCO's proposal to send a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL22
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas has emphasised the importance of protecting all cultural heritage sites to both the Armenian and Azerbaijani Governments. The UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan has also raised this issue with representatives of the Azerbaijani Government. We continue to underline our support for the efforts of UNESCO.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/05/2021 10:57:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

1313631

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Cultural Heritage: Nagorno Karabakh
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support UNESCO's proposal of a mission to take stock of the situation regarding cultural properties in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.
tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
uin	HL23
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2021 answer text <p>As signatories to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the UK supports the work of UNESCO in working with the relevant authorities in Armenia and Azerbaijan to protect cultural properties at risk in Nagorno-Karabakh. We support the work of the Minsk Group and hope UNESCO- appointed inspectors will be given unfettered access to ensure the effective safeguarding of the region’s heritage. The Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has emphasised the importance of protecting all cultural heritage sites to both the Armenian and Azerbaijani Governments.</p><p><strong><br> </strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 17/05/2021 16:15:55 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox