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Written Question
Marriage: Humanism
Tuesday 20th September 2022

Asked by: Lord Low of Dalston (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

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.

Answered by Lord Bellamy

Since marriage is a devolved matter, any decisions regarding humanist marriages in Northern Ireland will not impact marriage laws in England and Wales.

Written Question
Marriage: Humanism
Tuesday 20th September 2022

Asked by: Lord Low of Dalston (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

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.

Answered by Lord Bellamy

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 .

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

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 13 Jan 2022
Taking Control of Goods (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

"I am happy...."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Taking Control of Goods (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 22 Oct 2021
Assisted Dying Bill [HL]

"My Lords, in the six years since assisted dying was last debated in Parliament, lawmakers around the world, including in five Australian states and New Zealand, have recognised that banning assisted dying is both dangerous and cruel. In jurisdictions such as Victoria in Australia, parliamentarians have worked with disability rights …..."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Assisted Dying Bill [HL]
Written Question
Marriage: Humanism
Wednesday 28th April 2021

Asked by: Lord Low of Dalston (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take further to the High Court’s judgment in Harrison v Secretary of State for Justice & others, published on 31 July 2020; and what consideration they have given to introducing legislation to recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General

The Government announced in June 2019 that the Law Commission will conduct a fundamental review of the law on how and where people can legally marry in England and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.

The Commission launched its consultation on 3 September 2020 and it closed on 4 January 2021. The law on wedding ceremonies is a complex and important area of the law. The Commission considered it essential to conduct an extensive consultation with the wide range of interested groups and individuals who would be affected by reform.

The Commission expects to report to Government with its recommendations in the second half of this year. The Government will decide on provision for non-religious belief marriage in light of the Law Commission's recommendations.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 15 Jun 2016
EU Referendum and EU Reform (EUC Report)

"My Lords, as I listened to the wonderful speeches of the noble Lords, Lord Jay, Lord Cormack and Lord Bilimoria—picking just three out of what could have been a much larger number; I could certainly have included the speech from the noble Lord, Lord Watson, which we have just heard—I …..."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: EU Referendum and EU Reform (EUC Report)
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 10 Dec 2015
Legal Aid

"My Lords, it is always a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Dykes, with whom I so often find myself in accord. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Howarth, for securing this debate. The legal aid landscape is in such flux these days that it is important for Parliament …..."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Legal Aid
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 16 Jan 2015
Assisted Dying Bill [HL]

"My Lords, I strongly agree with what the noble and learned Lord, Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, just said. We need to recognise that the amendments are not really about clarity but about conferring on the Bill the stigma which traditionally attaches to suicide. The use of the term suicide breaches …..."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Assisted Dying Bill [HL]
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 16 Jan 2015
Assisted Dying Bill [HL]

"My Lords, I wish to make three brief points. The noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, has told us that disabled people are worried that disability will be equated with terminal illness and that they will be made the subject of “do not resuscitate” notices—indeed, that this happens or, at least, has …..."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Assisted Dying Bill [HL]
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 16 Jan 2015
Assisted Dying Bill [HL]

"If people with terminal illnesses do not wish to take advantage of the provisions of this legislation, what is there about it that forces or requires them to do so?..."
Lord Low of Dalston - View Speech

View all Lord Low of Dalston (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Assisted Dying Bill [HL]