Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Bellamy on 8 November 2022 (HL2958 and HL2957) when their response to the Law Commission’s report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law published on 19 July 2022 will be published.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government shares the concern that some people, and disproportionately women, may have a religious wedding that is not legally binding, and does not provide legal protections, without appreciating the consequences.
We are carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations on weddings reform. As part of its review, the Law Commission has considered ways of ensuring there are fewer religious wedding ceremonies that result in a marriage which the law does not recognise.
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. We are now taking the time to consider the report’s recommendations and will publish a response shortly.
Mentions:
1: Chris Bryant (Lab - Rhondda) Weddings, funerals, Mothers’ day and Valentine’s day—is there any family event that will not feel the - Speech Link
Written Evidence Nov. 14 2023
Inquiry: British Film and High-End TelevisionFound: Studios (Polygram Filmed Entertainment) which earned over 14 Oscars and produced films such as “Four Weddings
Found: the Coronation of His M ajesty the King, the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the 2011 and 2018 Royal Weddings
Mar. 18 2024
Source Page: King's Counsel appointments ceremony 2024: Lord Chancellor speechFound: providing emotional sustenance, I know from my own experience that the long hours, late nights, missed weddings
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the Law Commission’s report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 18 July 2022 (HC 557); and what plans they have to introduce further legislation to safeguard women who are in unregistered marriages.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We are carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations on weddings reform. As part of its review, the Law Commission has considered ways of ensuring that fewer weddings conducted according to religious rites result in a marriage that the law does not recognise. We will respond to the Law Commission’s report in due course.
Correspondence Jun. 15 2023
Committee: Women and Equalities CommitteeFound: law for financial provision on divorce and (b) considered the Law Commission’s July 2022 report on weddings
Found: the Coronation of His Majesty the King, the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the 2011 and 2018 Royal Weddings
Correspondence Jul. 18 2023
Committee: Women and Equalities CommitteeFound: that the Government has noted the Law Commission’s comments on cohabitat ion within its report on weddings
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the urgency of the need for marriage law reform, with particular reference to protection and prevention for women whose religious marriage ceremonies do not comply with legal requirements and may not be legally recognised.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government shares the concern that some people, and disproportionately women, may have a religious wedding that is not legally binding, and does not provide legal protections, without appreciating the consequences.
We are carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations on weddings reform. As part of its review, the Law Commission has considered ways of ensuring there are fewer religious wedding ceremonies that result in a marriage which the law does not recognise.
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. We are now taking the time to consider the report’s recommendations and will publish a response shortly.