Asked by: Darren Henry (Conservative - Broxtowe)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a criminal offence of deliberately infecting a person with covid-19.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has no plans to introduce a specific criminal offence as offences already exist which cover such circumstances.
Threatening to infect someone with covid-19 can be charged as an assault and where a direct causal link can be established between one person’s unlawful act and another person contracting the virus then other more serious offences can be charged.
Each case needs to be considered on its own specific facts.
Asked by: Darren Henry (Conservative - Broxtowe)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to enable marriages to take place as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
We understand the frustration couples planning a wedding must be feeling, and as with all coronavirus restrictions we will look to ease them as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Darren Henry (Conservative - Broxtowe)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether legislative proposals are required to amend the law to enable weddings, including death-bed weddings, to take place during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
We understand the frustration couples planning a wedding must be feeling, and as with all coronavirus restrictions we will look to ease them as soon as it is safe to do so.
Statute law provides that marriages must be solemnized, and civil partnerships formed, in certain types of location and in the presence of certain people, including witnesses. We continue to explore what potential changes to the requirements for marriage and civil partnership might assist couples – where restrictions remain in place or where infection control means that the requirements cannot be met – without undermining the safeguards in the system.
Asked by: Darren Henry (Conservative - Broxtowe)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to allow witnesses to marriages and civil partnerships to attend remotely as the covid-19 lockdown is eased.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
We understand the frustration couples planning a wedding must be feeling, and as with all coronavirus restrictions we will look to ease them as soon as it is safe to do so.
Statute law provides that marriages must be solemnized, and civil partnerships formed, in certain types of location and in the presence of certain people, including witnesses. We continue to explore what potential changes to the requirements for marriage and civil partnership might assist couples – where restrictions remain in place or where infection control means that the requirements cannot be met – without undermining the safeguards in the system.